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Serum levels of adiponectin and leptin in children born small for gestational age: relation to insulin sensitivity

Mirta Miras1, Mariana Ochetti, Silvia Martín

  • 1Servicio de Endocrinologia, Hospital de Niños de la Santisima Trinidad, Córdoba, Argentina.

Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism : JPEM
|July 29, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Children born small for gestational age (SGA) may face higher risks of obesity and diabetes. This study found leptin levels, not adiponectin, correlated with insulin sensitivity in SGA children, suggesting leptin

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Health
  • Growth and Development

Background:

  • Children born small for gestational age (SGA) exhibit increased susceptibility to obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes later in life.
  • Adiponectin and leptin, key adipocytokines, are recognized for their association with insulin sensitivity parameters.
  • Early identification of metabolic risks in SGA children is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between serum adiponectin and leptin levels and insulin sensitivity parameters in prepuberal children born SGA.
  • To evaluate the potential of adiponectin and leptin as early biomarkers for insulin resistance in SGA children.
  • To compare these adipocytokines in SGA children with and without catch-up growth (CUG) against appropriate for gestational age (AGA) peers.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of serum adiponectin, proinsulin, leptin, growth factors, and insulin levels.
  • Calculation of Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and HOMA beta-cell (HOMA-B).
  • Comparison of metabolic parameters in three groups: SGA with catch-up growth (SGA+CUG), SGA without catch-up growth (SGA-CUG), and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) children.

Main Results:

  • SGA children demonstrated adiponectin levels comparable to AGA children.
  • Leptin levels differed between sexes and were significantly higher in the SGA+CUG group (p=0.040).
  • Leptin levels showed significant correlations with insulin sensitivity parameters, unlike adiponectin.

Conclusions:

  • Leptin levels, rather than adiponectin, are associated with insulin sensitivity in prepuberal SGA children.
  • Elevated leptin in SGA+CUG children may indicate an adaptive leptin resistance mechanism to enhance energy balance.
  • Further research is needed to explore potential alterations in adipocyte function contributing to metabolic dysregulation in SGA individuals.

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