Serum adiponectin concentrations in relation to maternal and perinatal characteristics in newborns.
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.
Mantzoros
Christos
C
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Petridou
Eleni
E
Alexe
Delia-Marina
DM
Skalkidou
Alkistis
A
Dessypris
Nick
N
Papathoma
Eugenia
E
Salvanos
Heraklis
H
Shetty
Greeshma
G
Gavrila
Alina
A
Kedikoglou
Simos
S
Chrousos
George
G
Trichopoulos
Dimitrios
D
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
D052242:Adiponectin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D013002:Somatomedins