APLN and metabolic syndrome: Compared with controls, MetS patients were older and had significantly higher levels of waist circumference (WC), TG, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), angiotensin II (Ang II), angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and apelin-36, but lower levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) for both sexes (all p < 0.05).