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Adverse Childhood Experiences Influence Longitudinal Changes in Leptin But Not Adiponectin
Sara Matovic1, Christoph Rummel, Elena Neumann
1From Concordia University (Matovic, McGrath, Gouin), Montreal, Canada; Institute of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen (Rummel), Giessen, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMMB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen (Rummel, Neumann), Marburg and Giessen, Germany; and Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Campus Kerckhoff, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen (Neumann), Bad Nauheim, Germany.
Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine
|February 5, 2025
Summary
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to rising leptin levels over time in mothers, increasing cardiometabolic risk. This effect is partly mediated by central adiposity, highlighting a critical link between early life stress and later health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
- Psychoneuroimmunology
Background:
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to increased risk of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases.
- Adipokines like leptin and adiponectin play key roles in metabolic regulation, and their imbalance is associated with obesity.
- The adiponectin/leptin ratio may indicate dysregulation of adipose tissue function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal impact of ACEs on leptin, adiponectin, and the adiponectin/leptin ratio.
- To examine the influence of current chronic stress and adiposity on these relationships.
- To explore potential mediating roles of adiposity in the association between ACEs and adipokine changes.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 192 middle-aged mothers with varying chronic caregiving stress.
- Measurement of adipokines (leptin, adiponectin) and adiposity at three time points over 30 months.
- Retrospective assessment of ACEs using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Both leptin and adiponectin levels increased over the study period.
- Higher ACEs exposure correlated with greater increases in leptin over time.
- Increased waist circumference partially mediated the association between ACEs and leptin level increases.
Conclusions:
- ACEs may heighten vulnerability to cardiometabolic risk in midlife mothers.
- Longitudinal changes in leptin and central adiposity, influenced by ACEs, may underlie this increased risk.
- Current caregiving stress did not significantly impact adipokine levels or interact with ACEs effects.
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