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Research Project: Impact of Maternal Influence and Early Dietary Factors on Child Growth, Development, and Metabolic Health

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Title: The adiponectin paradox is present in children and is countered by fruit and vegetable intake – The Arkansas Active Kids Study

Author
item DIAZ, EVA - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item WEBER, JUDITH - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item EDWARDS, TIMOTHY - Arkansas Children'S Hospital
item BORSHEIM, ELISABET - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/24/2023
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The adiponectin paradox is present in children and is countered by fruit and vegetable intake – The Arkansas Active Kids Study Eva C. Diaz1-3, Judith L. Weber2,3, Timothy Edwards1,2, Elisabeth Børsheim1-3 1Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, 2Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, 3Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock Background: There is a direct association between adiponectin levels and mortality rate in heart failure patients. The underlying biology of this paradox is unknown. In adults, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables (FV) decrease cardiac strain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of serum adiponectin concentration with markers of cardiac function (oxygen pulse, OP) and FV consumption in 7-to-10 year-old children. Methods: Children (n=193) attended one study visit. Resting oxygen consumption (VO2, ml/min) and heart rate (HR, bpm) were measured using a metabolic cart and a vital sign monitor, respectively. OP was used as surrogate of stroke volume and estimated as VO2/HR (ml·O2-1·beat-1). Body composition was measured with DXA and fat-mass index z-scores (FMIZ) computed. FV consumption (cup/day) was estimated using questionnaires. Adiponectin (ng/ml), insulin, and glucose were measured from fasting serum. Generalized multiple linear regression analysis modeled the association of log-transformed serum adiponectin with OP, FV consumption, FMIZ , sex, age, and race. Results: Children (9 y/o) were predominantly Caucasian (75%). After controlling for FMIZ, OP (ß= -0.12, p= 0.001), age (ß= -0.09, p= 0.027), Black race (ß= -0.25, p=0.035), and male sex (ß= -0.23, p =0.027) negatively associated adiponectin levels. FV consumption interacted with OP in relation with adiponectin levels (ß= 0.10, p= 0.016). Final model: FV (ß= -0.72, p= 0.012), OP (ß= -0.28, p <0.001), FV x OP interaction (ß= 0.09, p =0.027), FMIZ (ß= -0.25, p <0.001), and Black race (ß= -0.20, p= 0.08). Children were stratified as ‘Low’ or ‘High’ if their FV intake fell below or above the 1st quartile (0.94) or 3rd quartile (2.2), respectively. At the lowest end of OP, children in the ‘Low’ group had higher adiponectin levels compared to children in the ‘High’ group with similar OP. At the highest end of OP, children in the ‘Low’ group had lower adiponectin levels compared to children in the ‘High’ group with similar OP. Conclusion: Adiponectin levels inversely associate with indirect measures of cardiac function in children. This association is modified by FV consumption. Our findings suggest the adiponectin paradox is also present in children. Increasing FV consumption is a feasible strategy to counter this phenomenon. Funding: This work was funded by USDA-ARS Projects 3092-51000-056- 04A and 6026-51000-012-06S. E.C.D., E.B., and J.L.W. are partially supported by NIH-NIGMS award 5P20GM109096.