Adiponectin levels in Brazilian adolescents: Distribution and associated factors in ERICA survey.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of adiponectin and associated factors with low adiponectin levels in a large sample of adolescents from different Brazilian regions.

METHODS

This is a national, school-based, cross-sectional multicenter study of cardiovascular risk factors in Brazilian adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. Serum adiponectin levels (μg/ml) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Given the lack of reference values, sex-and age-specific median was adopted as the cutoff point, with the values below the median representing a higher-risk profile. Associated factors with low levels of adiponectin were investigated using Poisson regression.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 4546 adolescents, the majority female (61.2%). The prevalence of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity was 30% and 13.4%, respectively. The medians of adiponectin were 13.4 μg/ml (95%CI: 12.8-14.0) in males and 14.2 μg/ml (95%CI: 13.3-15.0) in females. Lower adiponectin levels were associated with both overweight (Prevalence Ratios (PR) = 1.17; 95%CI 1.01-1.36) and obesity (PR = 1.36; 95%CI 1.16-1.56) in males, while, in females, adiponectin levels were associated only with obesity (PR = 1.45; 95% CI 1.26-1.66). Increased waist circumference in both males and females was inversely associated with adiponectin level.

CONCLUSIONS

Adiponectin levels were lower among adolescents with weight excess and abdominal obesity. Male adolescents who live in rural areas and study at private schools also showed lower adiponectin concentrations.