Impact of Family Background of Cardio-Metabolic Disorders and Associated Risk Factors on Total Adiponectin in Children

Background: Adiponectin is a novel hormone with unique biologic functions. Objective: Evaluating adiponectinpattern among children with a family history of cardio-metabolic diseases and risk factors may shed insight into the pathophysiologic mechanism behind these diseases among those at risk. Methods: 101 healthy children, aged 4 to 12 years, were enrolled in this study. Family history of diabetes, hypertension, obesity in both first and second degree relatives were established using Interviewer-administered questionnaires to the study participants' caregivers. Other data collated include the smoking history, occupation and highest educational attainment of the caregivers and birth weight of the study participants. Venous blood samples were assayed foradiponectin using ELISA kits. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21 with the significance level for tests of associations done set at p<0.05. Results: Of 101 children, 53 subjects were males (52.5%) with a male to female ratio of 0.9:1. The mean age of all subjects was 7.8 +/- 2.3 years. Children with a positive family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and obesity had higher mean adiponectin values than those without a family history, but these differences were not statistically significant. A negative trend was observed among subjects with a positive history of smoking and increased birth weight (p>0.05). No association was detected between adiponectin level and socioeconomic class. Conclusion: Future related studies conducted among subjects of African ancestry should explore the role of adiponectin resistance in the progression of cardio-metabolic diseases.