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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
High molecular weight, rather than total, adiponectin levels better reflect metabolic abnormalities associated with
Shunsuke Araki1, Kazushige Dobashi, Kazuyasu Kubo
1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
Insights
High molecular-weight adiponectin (H-Adn) better reflects metabolic issues in obese children than total adiponectin (T-Adn). Lower H-Adn levels are linked to metabolic syndrome development in childhood.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Metabolic Syndrome Research
- Adipokine Signaling
Background:
- Japanese children exhibit a predisposition to obesity-induced metabolic derangements.
- Serum adipocytokine profiles are implicated in these metabolic disturbances, even in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if high molecular-weight adiponectin (H-Adn) is a more specific indicator of metabolic derangement in obese children compared to total adiponectin (T-Adn).
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 59 obese children and 28 non-obese controls aged 5-15 years.
- Serum adiponectin multimeric complexes were quantified using ELISA.
- The correlation between adiponectin levels and metabolic abnormalities was assessed.
Main Results:
- Obese children had significantly lower serum levels of total adiponectin (T-Adn) and high molecular-weight adiponectin (H-Adn) compared to controls.
- Both T-Adn and H-Adn inversely correlated with insulin resistance markers.
- H-Adn, but not T-Adn, inversely correlated with visceral fat area; a subset of obese children with metabolic syndrome showed a selective decrease in H-Adn.
Conclusions:
- High molecular-weight adiponectin (H-Adn) serves as a more precise marker for obesity-related metabolic abnormalities in children than T-Adn.
- H-Adn is associated with the early development of metabolic syndrome in childhood.
Context:
Japanese are prone to obesity-induced metabolic derangement, which is linked to serum adipocytokine profile even in children.
Objective:
The objective of the study was to determine whether high molecular-weight adiponectin (H-Adn) more specifically relates to metabolic derangement in obese children than total adiponectin (T-Adn).
Design And Setting:
A case (n = 59) control (n = 28) study was performed at the pediatric clinic of a university hospital.
Patients:
Japanese obese children (38 boys and 21 girls) were consecutively enrolled. The ages ranged from 5 to 15 (10.3 +/- 0.3; mean +/- sem) yr. Nonobese children (15 boys and 13 girls) were assigned as age-matched controls.
Main Outcome Measures:
Serum adiponectin multimeric complexes were assayed by an ELISA kit. The relationship of adiponectin to metabolic abnormalities was evaluated.
Results:
T-Adn (5.1 +/- 0.2 vs. 8.8 +/- 0.4 microg/ml), H-Adn (1.3 +/- 0.1 vs. 4.8 +/- 0.4 microg/ml), and medium molecular weight-Adn were significantly lower in obese than in control children. After adjustment for age and sex, both T- and H-Adn were inversely correlated with insulin and homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance, whereas H-Adn (but not T-Adn) inversely correlated with visceral fat area, as determined by computed tomography. Seven obese children were estimated to have metabolic syndrome and showed selective decrease in H-Adn and H/T-Adn.
Conclusion:
H-Adn reflects metabolic abnormalities due to obesity better than T-Adn in children. H-Adn is associated with the development of metabolic syndrome, even in childhood.
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