To investigate levels of plasma adiponectin and lipid disturbance in obese children and its clinical significance.

From December 2008 to December 2009, a total of 105 children from the age of 6 to 13, body mass index (BMI) of (25.25±3.60)kg/m^2, who were diagnosed as obesity were included into obesity group. Meanwhile, another 50 healthy children were enrolled into control group [at the age of 6 to 13, body mass index of (16.78±1.40)kg/m²]. Both groups were excluded the genetic, metabolic, endocrine and other diseases. Informed consent was obtained from all participates. The ELISA technique was used to determine levels of plasma adiponectin. The serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), apoprotein A (ApoA), apoprotein B (ApoB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood glucose, uric acid (UA) were tested by the method of immunoturbidimetry. The correlation of plasma adiponectin, body mass index, blood lipid and apoprotein were analyzed. Ultrasonographic test of liver were done to explore nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

①The level of plasma adiponectin decreased significantly in obesity group compared with control group(P<0.01). ②Triglyceride, apolipoprotein B, aspartate aminotransferase and blood sugar were not found to have significantly higher levels in obesity group (P<0.05), but total cholesterol, apolipoprotein A, alanine aminotransferase, uric acid did (P>0.05); ③The adiponectin level was inversely correlated with body mass index(r=-0.33, P<0.01). Adiponectin had no significant correlation with the other lipid or apoprotein components. ④Hepatic sonograms test demonstrated that 19 children had fatty liver and 9 children were diagnosed as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The prevalence of fatty liver was 20.21% (19/94) and that of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was 9.57% (9/92) in obesity group, while those in control group were 0.00(0/50) and 0.00(0/50), respectively.

As a new adipocyte hormone in plasma, adiponectin is correlated with child obesity. The change of adiponectin occurred earlier than the changes in blood lipid or apoprotein. Measuring plasma adiponectin level and ultrasonographic test of liver may help in estimating the trend developing of childhood obesity. It may also provid a new method to prevent and treat childhood obesity.