Relationship between Adiponectin and Blood Pressure in Obese Latino Adolescent Boys with a Family History of Type 2 Diabetes

INTRODUCTION: Adipokines are associated with several pathological states including, metabolic syndrome, obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. One of these adipokines, adiponectin is of particular interest as it has been shown to have numerous anti-inflammatory effects, However, the association between adiponectin and blood pressure remains inconclusive especially in the obese Hispanic adolescent. PURPOSE: to investigate the relationship between plasma adiponectin and blood pressure in obese Latino adolescents’ boys with a family history of Type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Thirty two obese Latino male adolescents aged 14–17 years with a family history of type 2 diabetes underwent a frequently sampled glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT) to measure insulin sensitivity. Body composition was assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Obesity was defined as having a BMI percentile (3)95. Blood pressure was assessed using the Dinamap automated blood pressure monitor, and the average of three readings was used in the analysis. Fasting plasma adiponectin was determined using radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: There was a strong positive significant correlation for adiponectin and Systolic blood pressure(SBP) (p< 0.027) and a moderate, positive significant correction for Diastolic blood pressure(DBP) (p< 0.028). A multivariate liner regression showed that plasma adiponectin could significantly predict 19% of the variance in SBP (p=0.017, and 33% for DBP (p=0.017). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, adiponectin was positively and significantly correlated to blood pressure in obese Latino adolescent youth. Future studies should investigate this relationship in a large sample of Latino adolescent youth.