Low serum adiponectin levels are associated with reduced insulin sensitivity and lipid disturbances in short children born small for gestational age.

BACKGROUND: Being born as small for gestational age (SGA) has an increased risk of developing metabolic/cardiovascular disturbances in later life. The role of adiponectin in the metabolic disturbance in SGA children remained undefined.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum levels of adiponectin and insulin sensitivity as well as lipid profile in short children born SGA at prepubertal ages.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum levels of adiponectin, fasting glucose, insulin, IGF-I, IGFBP-1, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) and Apo B were measured in 30 prepubertal short children born SGA. Insulin resistance (IR) and β-cell function were assessed using the method of homeostatic model (HOMA). Data were compared to those of 30 short appropriate for gestational age (AGA) children matched for age, gender, height and body mass index, and correlation analysis was performed.

RESULTS: Short SGA children had significantly higher levels of fasting insulin, HOMA-IR and HOMA-β but lower levels of adiponectin than short AGA controls. No significant differences in the level of IGFBP-1 and IGF-I were found between the two groups. Serum levels of TC, TG, Apo B and Apo B/ApoA-I ratio were significantly higher in SGA, with 33% of hypercholesteraemia and 23% of hyperglyceridaemia. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that serum adiponectin level was negatively correlated with HOMA-IR and TG and was positively correlated with birthweight SDS in SGA children.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that low serum adiponectin levels are associated with reduced insulin sensitivity and unfavourable lipid profiles in short children born SGA at prepubertal ages.