Aim To investigate the relationship between adiponectin gene polymorphisms and the occurrence of atherosclerotic cerebral infarction(ACI),blood pressure as well as the lipid concentrations in Chinese Han population of Hunan area.Methods 163 healthy individuals and 161 ACI patients were recruited in this study.The genotypes of adiponectin were detected with polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and digested by specific restriction enzymes.Results Adiponectin polymorphisms existed in Chinese Han population of Hunan area,with the allele frequencies 0.783/0.217 for 45T/G in the whole study population,and 0.697/0.303 for 276G/T,respectively.There was no significant difference of genotype and allele frequency between ACI patients and controls for 45T/G polymorphisms(P>0.05).However,the frequency of T allele and TT genotype in adiponectin 276G/T polymorphisms were significantly higher in ACI group compared with that in control group(P<0.05).Also,T allele carriers had a significantly higher level of triglyceride(TG) than subjects with GG genotype.Conclusions 45T/G polymorphism of adiponectin might has no significant correlation with ACI in Chinese Han population of Hunan area,whereas 276G/T polymorphism might be associated with the development of ACI through a participation in the lipid metabolism.