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Serum adiponectin and leptin levels and insulin resistance in children born large for gestational age are affected by the degree of overweight
Author(s) -
Vasileios Giapros,
Eleni Evagelidou,
Anna Challa,
Dimitrios Kiortsis,
Aikaterini Drougia,
Styliani Andronikou
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2006.02736.x
Subject(s) - adiponectin , medicine , insulin resistance , leptin , endocrinology , gestational age , overweight , insulin , body mass index , percentile , birth weight , obesity , pregnancy , biology , statistics , mathematics , genetics
Summary Objective Children born large for gestational age (LGA) are prone to develop insulin resistance later in life. One factor that affects insulin sensitivity is the hormone adiponectin. The aim of this study was to determine whether being LGA has an impact on serum adiponectin and leptin levels and insulin resistance parameters during childhood, taking into account the severity of overweight. Study design Serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, fasting glucose and insulin, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA‐IR), and anthropometric indices were evaluated in groups of non‐obese children aged 6·5–8 years, born appropriate for gestational age (AGA, n = 40) or LGA ( n = 41), matched for age, gender, height, weight and body mass index. The LGA group was divided in two subgroups according to the degree of overweight: (a) LGA with birthweight 90th−97th percentile ( n = 25); and (b) LGA with birthweight > 97th percentile ( n = 16). Results LGA children had a higher mean serum adiponectin level than AGA children: 17·0 ± 9 vs. 11·1 ± 5 (µg/ml) ( P < 0·01). LGA children had also higher insulin 6·2 ± 2·8 vs. 4·8 ± 2·4 (µU/ml) ( P < 0·05) and HOMA‐IR 1·32 ± 0·66 vs. 1·02 ± 0·55 ( P < 0·01) than AGA children. Children born LGA > 97th percentile had a significantly higher mean serum leptin level than both AGA and LGA 90th−97th percentile children (17 ± 13, 9·6 ± 9·5, 7·8 ± 7·9 ng/ml, respectively, P < 0·05), and more severely affected insulin resistance indices than LGA 90th−97th percentile children. In the regression analysis, birthweight was found to be an independent predictor of adiponectin serum levels. Conclusion Prepubertal LGA‐born children had a higher mean serum adiponectin levels than matched AGA controls despite the fact that they were more insulin resistant. The degree of excess in utero weight gain appears to influence the metabolic profile in LGA‐born prepubertal children. Further studies are needed to delineate the role of adiponectin in the risk of development of insulin resistance in children born LGA.