Table 6 shows that the relations of total and HMW adiponectin concentrations with surrogate markers of enhanced early atherogenesis in white participants (Tables 3 and 4), is independent of not only potential confounders and/or determinants as identified in the present analysis (Table 2) but also of metabolic risk factors including the MetS defined HDL, triglycerides, blood pressure and glucose criteria [60] as well as smoking. This evidence concerns the gene ADIPOQ and metabolic syndrome.