Serum leptin and adiponectin levels in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus - Relation to body fat mass and disease course.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Leptin and adiponectin are adipokines presenting a wide range of impacts, including glycemic balance regulations. Insulin is one of the main regulators of adipose tissue function. In type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) endogenous insulin secretion is replaced by the exogenous supply, which is not regulated naturally. The aim of the study was to establish serum leptin and adiponectin levels, and their relations to body fat mass and disease course in children with T1DM. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study included 75 children with T1DM and the control group of 20 healthy coevals. All children had estimated serum leptin and adiponectin concentrations, lipid profile, and bioelectrical impedance analysis. RESULTS: Serum leptin concentrations in children with T1DM were not significantly different from the control group (p=0.067, mean values±SD 3.11±2.98 vs. 5.29±5.06µg/l, respectively), and related positively to body fat mass in both groups. Adiponectin serum concentrations were significantly higher in children with T1DM than in the control group (p<0.001; mean values 18.82±9.31 vs. 12.10±5.53µg/ml, respectively), and were not related to the body fat content in the study group. Both, leptin and adiponectin, showed no relation to any of the analyzed parameters of the disease course. CONCLUSIONS: Differences observed between children with T1DM and their healthy coevals, when similar in terms of age, body weight, and body fat mass, seem not to depend directly on the disease duration, its metabolic control or insulin supply.