Chemerin concentrations in infants born small for gestational age: correlations with triglycerides and parameters related to glucose homeostasis.

Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) are known to have increased risk of developing several pathologies, including the metabolic syndrome, when they grow up. It has been described that both the growth pattern of these children as well as the risk of their presenting future metabolic disorders can be influenced by the expression of adipokines. Among them, chemerin has demonstrated to be implicated in lipid and glucose metabolism, presenting higher circulating concentration in diabetic and obese subjects. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the association of anthropometric parameters and plasmatic biochemical parameters with circulating chemerin concentration in SGA children. This prospective, longitudinal study was carried out in plasma samples of Caucasian children born SGA at Hospital Universitario de Álava-Txagorritxu. Significant positive correlations were observed between chemerin concentrations at 3 months and insulin values at 3 months and also with triglyceride levels at 24 months. These associations were maintained after adjustment by anthropometric parameters. Therefore, we suggest that circulating chemerin concentration, measured at an early age, might be an indicator of future metabolic alterations in SGA children.