Cord blood and child plasma adiponectin levels in relation to childhood obesity risk and fat distribution up to 5 y.

BACKGROUND: Few human studies have explored the role of adiponectin in early life on growth and adipose tissue development.

METHODS: High molecular weight (HMW) and total adiponectin levels from 141 cord blood samples and plasma blood samples from 40 3-y-old children were analyzed. Associations between adiponectin levels in cord blood and child plasma, and infant/child growth and fat mass measurements up to the age of 5 y were assessed using linear regression models.

RESULTS: HMW cord blood adiponectin was positively associated with weight, BMI percentiles, and lean body mass at birth only. At 3 and 4 y, positive associations were found with cord blood adiponectin and sum of four skinfold thickness measures and percentage of body fat following adjustment for maternal and child covariates, but did not persist at 5 y. There was no significant evidence of an association between child plasma HMW adiponectin and growth or body composition characteristics at 3-5 y.

CONCLUSION: Our results do not support the hypothesis that HMW cord blood adiponectin is a useful biomarker for the prediction of adiposity at the age of 5 y. Additionally, there is no evidence that plasma HMW adiponectin levels predict body fat distribution between 3-5 y.