Serum adiponectin profile in obese Bangladeshi children attending an obesity clinic

Background and objective: Childhood obesity plays major role in the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Serum adiponectin has been found to be associated with several cardiometabolic risk factors. The study investigated the serum adiponectin levels and its relationship with obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in Bangladeshi obese children. Material and methods: Overweight or obese children, between 6-18 years of age, attending the obesity clinic of the Department of Endocrinology, BSMMU were enrolled. Waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure (BP) were measured and blood samples were taken for estimation of glucose, insulin, lipid profile and adiponectin. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum insulin and lipid profile were estimated by automated analyzer. Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated from fasting insulin and fasting plasma glucose values. Serum adiponectin (total) was measured by ELISA method using DRG ELISA kit, Germany. Results:A total of 78 overweight or obese children of 6-18-year of age were enrolled. The mean (±SD) age of the study population was 12.22 ± 2.56 years and the mean BMI was 28.79 ± 4.54 kg/m2. Mean (±SD) serum adiponectin was 36.93 ± 17.85 µg/ml in 78 overweight/obese children. One way ANOVA showed no significant (P= 0.582) difference of adiponectin levels among children with overweight and different grades of obesity. There was no significant correlation between adiponectin and measures of generalized (r=0.035, p=0.763) or central (r=0.098, p=0.392) obesity. Also, no significant correlation was found between serum adiponectin level and any of cardiovascular risk factors of obesity or metabolic health. Conclusion: The study showed high serum adiponectin level in obese Bangladeshi children. Also, no association was found between serum adiponectin levels with grades of obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors among obese children of Bangladesh. IMC J Med Sci. 2023; 17(2):009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.17.019 *Correspondence: Palash Chandra Sutradhar, Department of Medicine, Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital, Kotwali, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh. Email: palashdmc@gmail.com