The aims of this study were: 1) to elucidate the relation of adiponectin to atherosclerosis for each gender specifically in gender-stratified analyses; 2) to determine whether adiponectin is independent of other cardiovascular risk factors; 3) to evaluate whether adiponectin provides additional information regarding the risk of atherosclerosis, beyond that provided by conventional cardiovascular risk factors. This evidence concerns the gene ADIPOQ and atherosclerosis.