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Adiponectin/resistin levels and insulin resistance in children: a four country comparison study
Koji Takemoto1, Richard J Deckelbaum2, Isao Saito3
1Department of Pediatrics, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime 791-0295 Japan.
Insights
Serum adiponectin levels, lower in Asian children, correlate with insulin resistance markers. Resistin did not show a significant association with insulin resistance in this diverse pediatric cohort.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric endocrinology
- Metabolic health
- Cross-cultural research
Background:
- Limited data exists on how ethnicity and gender influence adipocytokines and insulin resistance in children.
- This study investigates serum adiponectin and resistin levels in relation to insulin resistance parameters across diverse populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the association between serum adiponectin/resistin concentrations and insulin resistance markers in children from Japan, Thailand, Italy, and the USA.
- To explore potential differences based on age, gender, and ethnicity.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 2,290 children aged 8-15 years from four countries was analyzed.
- Serum adiponectin and resistin levels were measured and correlated with insulin resistance parameters like HOMA-IR and fasting insulin.
- Statistical analyses included correlation coefficients and multiple regression.
Main Results:
- Adiponectin levels were higher in females and younger children, and lower in Asian children compared to Italian and American children, even after adjusting for BMI or WC.
- Serum adiponectin correlated with insulin resistance markers in specific subgroups, particularly in young Japanese, Italian, and American females, and older males from Italy, USA, and Thailand.
- No significant correlation was found between resistin and insulin resistance markers across any country.
Conclusions:
- Serum adiponectin concentrations are lower in Asian children compared to Italian and American children.
- Adiponectin, but not resistin, plays a role in variations of insulin resistance markers among children from different ethnic backgrounds.
Background:
There are few reports on the effects of ethnicity or gender in the association between adipocytokines and insulin resistance in children of different ages. This study assessed associations between serum concentrations of adiponectin/resistin and parameters of insulin resistance in children from 4 different countries.
Methods:
A total of 2,290 children were analyzed in this study; each was from one of 4 different countries (Japan, Thailand, Italy and USA), and grouped according to age (8-11 years old in Group 1 and 12-15 years old in Group 2).
Results:
Adioponectin was higher in female than in male children, and in Group 1 than in Group 2. Generally, adiponectin was lower in Asian as compared to Italian and American children. These tendencies remained even after adjustment for body mass index (BMI) or waist circumstance (WC). Among older children (Group 2), resistin was higher in female than in male children. Significant correlations by non-parametric univariate correlation coefficients and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were found between adiponectin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and fasting serum insulin levels in young Japanese, Italian, and American female children(p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, respectively). Correlations between serum adiponectin and HOMA-IR were also found among older male Italian, American, and Thai children (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). In multiple regression analysis by forced entry method, adiponectin correlated with HOMA-IR in Italian and American male children, and in all older female children regardless of country of origin. There was no correlation between resistin and markers of insulin resistance in children from any of the countries.
Conclusions:
We conclude that serum adiponectin concentrations are lower in Asian as compared to Italian and American children, and that adiponectin but not resistin contributes to differences in markers for insulin resistance in children from different populations.
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