Associations of adiponectin concentrations from birth until late adolescence with insulin resistance.

Introduction: We investigated associations of adiponectin concentrations from birth to adolescence with insulin resistance in late adolescence using data from Project Viva prospective birth cohort (Eastern Massachusetts, 1999-2002).

Methods: We conducted multivariable linear regression models between adiponectin (internal z-scores) at birth, early childhood, mid-childhood, early and late adolescence and insulin resistance in late adolescence with the homeostasis model for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

Results: In 468 children (52% female, 59% Non-Hispanic White), we observed inverse associations of adiponectin z-scores in mid-childhood (-0.16, 95% CI: -0.33, 0.01), early adolescence (-0.19, 95% CI: -0.37, -0.01) and late adolescence (-0.40, 95% CI: -0.57, -0.23) with HOMA-IR in late adolescence; these associations were attenuated after accounting for BMI z-score. When stratified by sex, we observed these associations in males, while estimates were more modest in females.

Conclusion: Overall, starting in mid-childhood, lower adiponectin concentrations were linked with higher insulin resistance in late adolescence, with associations apparent mostly in males.