A Study of Serum Adiponectin and Insulin Resistance in Children and Adolescents

Byun, Sung Hwan; Jeon, Je Deok; Kim, Hyun Soo; Kim, Se Young

Abstract

PURPOSE: Currently many studies have confirmed the relationship between serum adiponectin and its influence on insulin resistance in adults. But physiologic insulin resistance due to changes in sex hormones exists during puberty, which prohibits us from knowing the influence of adiponectin to insulin resistance in this population. In this study, we investigated the influence of adiponectin on insulin resistance in children and adolescents.
METHODS
18 obese children, from the OPD were selected. From All subjects, blood was sampled after overnight fasting, adiponectin, lipid profiles, AST, ALT, fasting glucose and insulin levels were measured to evaluate correlations with adiponectin. The group were divided into subgroups by BMI, sex and HOMA-IR values. All variables were compared for differences and relationships.
RESULTS
Obese groups showed decrease in adiponectin and showed increased insulin. HOMA-IR values were increased in the obese group. In all study participants, adiponectin showed significant correlation with triglyceride and HDL. But adiponectin showed no significant correlation with HOMA-IR, insulin and glucose. In the obese group adiponectin showed no correlation with HOMA-IR, insulin and glucose. HOMA-IR showed significant correlation with BMI, body weight and age. There were no sexual differences in adiponectin, insulin and HOMA-IR values. Insulin resistant group showed decrease in adiponectin but had no statistical significance.
CONCLUSION
Decreased adiponectin levels and increased insulin resistance were observed in obese children but adiponectin showed no correlation with insulin resistance in children and adolescence. Factors other than adiponectin may play a more significant role in insulin resistance in this age group.