Relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and adipokines in adolescents

This study evaluated the associations of adipokines with cardiovascular risk factors.

60 normal weight (BMI ≤75th percentile) and 60 overweight (BMI ≥95th percentile) adolescents aged 10-14 years. Resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP, DBP) and waist circumference were obtained in duplicate. Circulating adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides (TG) were measured from fasting plasma samples.

Simple correlations showed that SBP was significantly related (p < 0.05) to adiponectin (r = -0.185), resistin (r = 0.207), and IL-6 (r = 0.238); HDL was significantly related to adiponectin (r = 0.398) and TNF-α (r = -0.227). TG was only related to adiponectin (r = -0.292, p < 0.05). Multiple regression models controlling for puberty and ethnicity indicated that adiponectin (R(2) = 0.152, p < 0.05), resistin (R(2) = 0.152, p < 0.05), and IL-6 (R(2) = 0.170, p < 0.05) were associated with SBP. The association between adiponectin and HDL was stronger in normal weight versus overweight adolescents (R(2) = 0.336, p < 0.05). None of the other models showed differences in the associations by weight status.

In adolescents, SBP but not DBP was associated with most adipokines. HDL, but not TC, was also associated with some adipokines. TG were only associated with adiponectin. Associations were mostly related to adiposity.