Adiponectin and Leptin Trajectories in Mexican-American Children from Birth to 9 Years of Age

Abstract

ObjectivesTo address molecular mechanisms underlying obesity development, we examined patterns of critical metabolism-related hormones, adiponectin and leptin (adipokines), over childhood.Subjects and DesignPlasma adiponectin and leptin were measured in 80 Mexican-American children at birth and again at 2, 5, and 9 years from the ongoing prospective cohort followed by the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS). We used a mixture modeling approach to identify patterns in adipokine trajectories from birth to 9 years.ResultsLeptin was positively related to child body size within all ages, however adiponectin had inverse and weaker associations with BMI at 2, 5, and 9 years. Correlations between adipokine levels over the 0–2, 2–5, and 5–9-year periods increased for both leptin (r = 0.06, 0.31 and 0.62) and adiponectin (r = 0.25, 0.41 and 0.46). Our mixture modeling approach identified three trajectory clusters for both leptin (1L [slowly-rising], 2L [rapidly-rising], and 3L [stable]) and adiponectin (1A [steep-dropping and rebounding], 2A [moderately-dropping], and 3A [stable]). While leptin groups were most separated over the 2–9-year period, adiponectin trajectories displayed greatest heterogeneity from birth to 2 years. Children in the rapidly-rising 2L group had highest BMI and waist circumference at 9 years. Further, children with greater birth weight had increased odds of belonging to this high risk group (OR = 1.21 95% CI 1.03, 1.43, compared to stable group 3L). Children whose mothers consumed more sugar-sweetened beverages during pregnancy were at risk of being in the steep-dropping 1A group (OR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.01, 1.17, compared to stable group 3A).ConclusionOur results highlight developmental differences in leptin and adiponectin over the childhood period. Leptin closely reflects child body size however factors affecting adiponectin and long-term consequences of its changes over infancy need to be further explored.

An examination of sex differences in associations between cord blood adipokines and childhood adiposity

“…A study of Mexican-American children reported no differences in adiponectin levels between boys and girls from birth to age 9. 43 In non-stratified analyses, cord blood adiponectin has been positively associated with the SSF/TSF ratio at age 3 in Project Viva, 19 with body composition at age 3 in twins 23 and with fat mass at 2 weeks but not 3 months in offspring of African American women. 26 In addition, authors of a study in Oklahoma reported that cord blood levels of high molecular weight adiponectin were positively associated with three measures of adiposity (SSF, body weight and percent fat) in male and female infants at 1 month of age.…”

“…This finding is interesting considering that, unlike cord blood leptin where sex‐specific differences are apparent at birth, adiponectin levels are relatively similar in both sexes throughout childhood, yet may diverge in adolescence. A study of Mexican‐American children reported no differences in adiponectin levels between boys and girls from birth to age 9 . In non‐stratified analyses, cord blood adiponectin has been positively associated with the SSF/TSF ratio at age 3 in Project Viva, with body composition at age 3 in twins and with fat mass at 2 weeks but not 3 months in offspring of African American women .…”

“…The positive correlation between adiponectin and birthweight transitions to a negative correlation between adiponectin and both adult weight and insulin resistance . Children with higher rates of weight gain and BMI during infancy tend to have lower adiponectin levels in early adolescence . There is limited evidence that low adiponectin levels in early adolescence are linked to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome .…”

“…14 Children with higher rates of weight gain and BMI during infancy tend to have lower adiponectin levels in early adolescence. 43 There is limited evidence that low adiponectin levels in early adolescence are linked to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome. 49 In light of these temporal changes and the complexity of adiponectin's physiological effects, it is not possible to infer long-term clinical implications from the present study.…”

Maternal blood metal levels and fetal markers of metabolic function

“…Further investigation of this cohort is necessary to understand how fetal leptin and adiponectin translate into childhood growth trajectories. Leptin levels at birth have been found to be correlated with anthropometric measures in childhood (Karakosta and Chatzi, 2011;Mantzoros et al, 2009); the relationship between adiponectin and BMI is more complicated (Mazaki-Tovi et al, 2005;Volberg et al, 2013). Though birth weight is positively correlated with cord blood adiponectin, adiponectin levels are low in obese adults (Mazaki-Tovi et al, 2005).…”