Adiponectin, adiposity, and insulin resistance in children and adolescents.
BACKGROUND
Determinants of adiponectin and its association with insulin resistance (IR) are less well studied in youth than in adults.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to describe, in youth, the age- and sex-specific distribution of adiponectin concentrations and the association with demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle factors, parental diabetes, and markers of IR.


METHODS
We studied 1632 French Canadian youth aged 9, 13, and 16 yr who participated in the Québec Child and Adolescent Health and Social Survey, a province-wide, school-based survey conducted in 1999.


RESULTS
Boys had lower adiponectin concentrations than girls by 17% (P < 0.0001). At age 16 yr, mean adiponectin concentrations were 27.7% (boys, P < 0.0001) and 13.3% (girls, P < 0.0001) lower than at age 9 yr (p(interaction) = 0.009). Mean adiponectin decreased for every unit increase in body mass index (BMI) Z-score by 8.1% in boys and 11.2% in girls (P < 0.0001). Growth-related change in BMI explained half the age effect in boys and all the age effect in girls. Self-reported pubertal status, physical activity, smoking, and parental diabetes were not independently associated with adiponectin. Fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment-IR were not associated with adiponectin concentration. However, the interaction of adiponectin and BMI Z-score was significant in a multiple regression model of fasting insulin.


CONCLUSIONS
Male sex and changes in body fat may be major determinants of the decreasing adiponectin concentrations of growing youth, which are accompanied by a dissociation of adiponectin and markers of IR. The relationship between adiposity and markers of IR is attenuated in those with higher adiponectin concentrations, making adiponectin a potential intervention target or risk marker.
Medical Genetics Service, Ste-Justine Hospital, 3175 Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Zubin
Z
Punthakee
Edgard E
EE
Delvin
Jennifer
J
O'loughlin
Gilles
G
Paradis
Emile
E
Levy
Robert W
RW
Platt
Marie
M
Lambert
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D052242:Adiponectin