Adiponectin during pregnancy: correlation with fat metabolism, but not with carbohydrate metabolism

Several studies show an association of adiponectin deficiency with obesity, insulin resistance and dysfunctional fat metabolism. This study investigates to what extent the correlations described occurs in pregnant women.

Metabolism parameters and adiponectin serum levels were measured in 32 pregnant women at various times during their pregnancies and during the first six postpartum weeks.

In this random group of pregnant subjects no correlation was found between adiponectin and insulin, C-peptides, blood sugar levels or BMI. No correlation was found between adiponectin and carbohydrate metabolism. The adiponectin levels of the pregnant women correlated negatively with triglyceride levels during the various stages of pregnancy; in the 36th week of gestation and at 6 weeks after the birth a positive correlation with HDL cholesterol was observed. The decrease in adiponectin concentration in pregnancy must therefore be more closely connected with changes in fat metabolism than with an increase in insulin resistance or weight gain during the pregnancy. The decrease in adiponectin does not correlate with an increase in body fat, BMI or weight; however, it does correlate with metabolism. The mechanisms of the regulation, which causes adiponectin levels to fall, is still unknown.