BACKGROUND

Low levels of adiponectin have been associated with metabolic risk factors (RF) and cardiac disease. Minimal data is available about the relationship between adiponectin and subclinical atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the relationship of adiponectin to cardiometabolic RF, C-reactive protein (CRP), anthropometric parameters of obesity, and subclinical atherosclerosis in children.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study in 103 children. We determined body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, percent fat mass, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, fasting lipid profile, glycemia and insulinemia, and CRP. Subclinical atherosclerosis was determined by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery (FMD).

RESULTS

Mean age of the group was 12.4+/-1.9 years (47% girls; 20.4% prepubertal; 45 eutrophic, 23 overweight and 35 obese). Adiponectin levels were not statistically significantly different in eutrophic children versus obese+overweight: 17.7+/-5.6 and 15.9+/-5.3 microg/mL, respectively. Adiponectin levels in boys were no different from those in girls. Adiponectin correlated significantly with age, BMI, zBMI, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, HDL, insulinemia, and HOMA index. No statistically significant association with adiponectin was found for CRP, FMD or IMT. After adjusting by sex, pubertal status, and degree of obesity, the adiponectin levels associated significantly with HDL cholesterol and the HOMA index (r(2)=0.34, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Adiponectin levels were inversely correlated with anthropometric parameters of obesity and insulin resistance and directly correlated with HDL levels. However, no relationship with subclinical atherosclerosis was demonstrated in this study.