Does birthweight predict adolescent adiponectin levels?
OBJECTIVE
Low birthweight is associated with insulin resistance later in life, and adiponectin is known to play an important role in insulin resistance. We have investigated whether birthweight has a relationship with adiponectin levels in adolescence.


METHODS
An at-home questionnaire survey was completed by 660 middle-school students (aged 12-15 years) in Seoul, Korea, and 152 participants were selected randomly based on their birthweight. MEASUREMENTS Subjects were separated into three groups according to birthweight. We recorded the birthweight and measured anthropometric factors including blood pressure, lipid profile, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and beta-cell function (HOMA-beta), and adiponectin levels of the subjects. These parameters were compared among the groups. The relationship between birthweight and physiological characteristics in adolescence was examined.


RESULTS
Systolic blood pressure, lipid profiles and fasting plasma glucose were not significantly different among the groups, but diastolic blood pressure was lower in the third tertile. Insulin, C-peptide and HOMA-IR were higher in the low birthweight tertile. After adjustment for confounding factors, birthweight was inversely related to diastolic blood pressure, insulin, C-peptide and HOMA-IR. Adiponectin level had a significant relationship with current body mass index (BMI) (r=-0.291; P< 0.001) but not with birthweight (r = 0.117; P = 0.166). CONCLUSIONSP: Although birthweight is closely related to insulin resistance during adolescence, adiponectin levels during adolescence had no significant relationship with birthweight. This result implies that low birthweight may not permanently affect adiponectin levels, but current body size is more closely associated with a decreased adiponectin level. However, the limited importance of birthweight as a determining factor on the adiponectin level later in life needs to be further evaluated.
Kim
Chul Sik
CS
Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Jong Suk
JS
Park
Jina
J
Nam
Ji Sun
JS
Kang
Eun Seok
ES
Ahn
Chul Woo
CW
Cha
Bong Soo
BS
Lim
Sung Kil
SK
Kim
Kyung Rae
KR
Lee
Hyun Chul
HC
Huh
Kap Bum
KB
Kim
Dae Jung
DJ
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male
D052242:Adiponectin; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D002784:Cholesterol