title: Serum adiponectin concentrations in relation to maternal and perinatal characteristics in newborns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess serum adiponectin levels of neonates in relation to ponderal index and birth length with and without adjustment for potential confounding factors including maternal factors and perinatal characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and three newborns (Caucasian, singleton, full term, with a birth weight of > or =2500 g, and apparently healthy) were included in the study. Blood samples were collected from the newborns no later than the fifth day of life for measurements of adiponectin and major IGF system components (IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3)). The data were analyzed using simple and multiple regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adiponectin is substantially higher in neonates than in adults, with no evidence of the gender dimorphism observed among adults. We found an inverse association between neonatal adiponectin levels and newborn ponderal index and a positive association with newborn length by univariate analysis. We also found a statistically significant inverse association of adiponectin with jaundice/bilirubin, and a marginally significant positive association of this hormone with IGFBP-3 but no significant association with any maternal factors. In multivariate analysis, the inverse association between serum adiponectin and ponderal index does not remain significant after adjustment for potential confounding factors. In contrast, neonatal adiponectin levels correlate inversely significantly and independently with liver maturity and IGF-II and tend to remain positively associated with IGFBP-3 and increased birth length.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An inverse association of adiponectin with ponderal index by univariate analysis is not independent from confounding factors. In contrast, the positive association between serum adiponectin and birth length may reflect either a direct effect of adiponectin or an adiponectin-mediated increase in the sensitivity of tissues to insulin and components of the IGF system, and needs to be explored further.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mantzoros
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petridou
authors.forename: Delia-Marina
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Alexe
authors.forename: Alkistis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skalkidou
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dessypris
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papathoma
authors.forename: Heraklis
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Salvanos
authors.forename: Greeshma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gavrila
authors.forename: Simos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kedikoglou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chrousos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trichopoulos
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000097:blood; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D013002:Somatomedins