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Does adiponectin explain the lower insulin sensitivity and hyperinsulinemia of African-American children?

Fida Bacha1, Rola Saad, Neslihan Gungor

  • 1Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes Mellitus, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. fida.bacha@chp.edu

Pediatric Diabetes
|June 21, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Black children have lower adiponectin (a protein linked to diabetes) than white children. This difference in adiponectin does not explain racial variations in insulin sensitivity.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Health
  • Pediatric Health

Background:

  • Adiponectin is an adipocytokine known for its antidiabetogenic properties.
  • Previous research indicates racial disparities in insulin sensitivity and secretion among children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of race on adiponectin levels in children.
  • To examine the relationship between adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity and secretion in children.

Main Methods:

  • Fasting adiponectin levels were measured in 22 black and 22 white prepubertal children.
  • Children were matched for similar body composition.
  • Insulin sensitivity and first-phase insulin secretion were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Black children exhibited significantly lower fasting adiponectin levels compared to white children (9.9 vs. 15.7 microg/mL).
  • Adiponectin showed a positive correlation with insulin sensitivity (r=0.29, p=0.06) and a negative correlation with first-phase insulin levels (r=-0.47, p=0.001).
  • Race, adiponectin, and body fat percentage independently explained 48% of the variance in first-phase insulin secretion.

Conclusions:

  • Black children have substantially lower adiponectin levels than their white peers.
  • Lower adiponectin levels do not appear to account for racial differences in insulin sensitivity.
  • Further research is needed to explore the connection between hyperinsulinemia and hypoadiponectinemia.

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