Neonatal Adipocytokines and Longitudinal Patterns of Childhood Growth

OBJECTIVE: Adipocytokines are markers of fetal metabolism, but their association with childhood growth is unclear. This study examined associations of neonatal adipocytokines with longitudinal childhood adiposity measures in a prospective cohort of pregnant women and their children. METHODS: We measured leptin and adiponectin concentrations at delivery and children’s body mass index (BMI) z-scores between ages 4 weeks and 8 years. We estimated differences in BMI z-scores and rates of BMI z-score change by leptin (N = 257) and adiponectin (N = 271) terciles. RESULTS: Children in the middle (mean difference: 0.2; 95% CI: −0.1, 0.4) and highest (0.4; 95% CI: 0.1, 0.6) leptin terciles had greater BMI z-scores than children in the lowest tercile. Associations were null after adjustment for birthweight z-score. Children in the lowest adiponectin tercile had greater gains in BMI z-score (change per year: 0.10; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.13) than children in the middle (0.07; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.09) and highest terciles (0.04; 95% CI: −0.01, 0.05) (adiponectin x age interaction P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Lower adiponectin levels were associated with increased rates of BMI gains in the first 8 years of life. While leptin was positively associated with BMI, this association may be confounded by birthweight.