This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.Childhood overweight is prevalent in the United States, and is associated with multiple health risks such as hypertension and insulin resistance, as well as an increased risk of chronic disease in adulthood. Pro-inflammatory substances produced by fat cells, or adipocytokines, may provide anexplanation for this increased risk. Some adipocytokines, however, have anti-inflammatory or protective actions. Adiponectin is one adipocytokine that appears to protect against atherosclerosis and insulin resistance. Although adiponectin is produced by fat cells, the blood levels of adiponectin are lower in subjects with obesity. Research in adults has shown that low adiponectin levels are associated with higher levels of body fat, blood pressure, triglycerides, and insulin and the clustering of CVD and T2Drisk factors known as the metabolic syndrome. Relatively few studies have examined the associations of adiponectin with obesity and multiple other risk factors for CVD or T2D in ethnically diverse samples of children. The proposed study will describe the distribution of adiponectin levels in a large, ethnically diverse sample of children and adolescents and examine the relationship of adiponectin to multiple risk factors for CVD and T2D. If adiponectin is found to be significantly associated with these risk factors,the findings will provide important evidence for the need to develop lifestyle interventions to increase adiponectin levels, and thus reduce the risk of chronic disease during childhood and adulthood.
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