Reference values for serum total adiponectin in healthy non-obese children and adolescents

Background: Adiponectin is an abundant adipocyte-secreted hormone that modulates a number of metabolic processes and is correlated to various metabolic disorders. Pediatric reference levels are needed for the risk stratification and interpretation of individual serum adiponectin levels. Methods: A total of 1193 healthy, non-obese Danish schoolchildren (730 girls, 463 boys) aged 6-18 years (median 11.9) were examined by trained medical staff. Total serum adiponectin concentrations in venous fasting blood samples were quantitated by a DuoSet (R) ELISA human Adiponectin/Acrp30 (R&D Systems) following optimization. Results: In a generalized linear model adjusted for BMI SDS, total serum adiponectin concentrations were correlated to age in girls (p <0.0001) and boys (p = <0.0001) and for both sexes combined (p <0.0001). No significant difference between sexes was found. Reference intervals were calculated using age as a continuous variable. The best fitted reference curve for both sexes was: 50th percentile: Y = -0.1478 * X + 6.046; 2.5th percentile: Y = -0.06256 * X + 2.34; 97.5th percentile: Y = -0.4086 * X + 22.39, where Y = adiponectin mu g/mL and X = years of age (from 6 to 18 years). Conclusion: We developed a pediatric reference levels for total serum adiponectin in a sample of 1193 Danish children and adolescents aged 6-18 years. A correlation with age was demonstrated in children, but no significant difference was seen between the sexes. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.