The significant association between lipocalin-2 or RBP4 and subclinical atherosclerosis remained unchanged after the HOMA-IR was taken into consideration when performing regression (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.08–4.38, P = 0.029; OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.11–1.24, P<0.001, respectively). This evidence concerns the gene LCN2 and atherosclerosis.