Does birthweight predict adolescent adiponectin levels?

Objective: Low birthweight is associated with insulin resistance later in life, and adiponectin is known to play an important role in insulin resistance. We have investigated whether birthweight has a relationship with adiponectin levels in adolescence. Patients: An at-home questionnaire survey was completed by 660 middle-school students (aged 12-15 years) in Seoul, Korea, and 152 participants were selected randomly based on their birthweight. Measurements: Subjects were separated into three groups according to birthweight. We recorded the birthweight and measured anthropometric factors including blood pressure, lipid profile, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and β-cell function (HOMA-β), and adiponectin levels of the subjects. These parameters were compared among the groups. The relationship between birthweight and physiological characteristics in adolescence was examined. Results: Systolic blood pressure, lipid profiles and fasting plasma glucose were not significantly different among the groups, but diastolic blood pressure was lower in the third tertile. Insulin, C-peptide and HOMA-IR were higher in the low birthweight tertile. After adjustment for confounding factors, birthweight was inversely related to diastolic blood pressure, insulin, C-peptide and HOMA-IR. Adiponectin level had a significant relationship with current body mass index (BMI) (r = -0·291; P < 0·001) but not with birthweight (r = 0·117; P = 0·166). Conclusions: Although birthweight is closely related to insulin resistance during adolescence, adiponectin levels during adolescence had no significant relationship with birthweight. This result implies that low birthweight may not permanently affect adiponectin levels, but current body size is more closely associated with a decreased adiponectin level. However, the limited importance of birthweight as a determining factor on the adiponectin level later in life needs to be further evaluated.