Objective To analyze the differences in the levels of serum adiponectin between premature neonates.and term neonates.To explore the effect of preterm on the level of serum adiponoctin and the mechanism by which prcterm contributes with the serious risk factor of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood.Method The serum adiponectin concentration was quan-tified in 30 term neonates and 21 premature neonates hy immunoradiometric assay.Results The concentration of serum adiponeetin was (34.29?7.24) mg/L in premature neonates and(62.47?28.33) mg/L in term neonates. The level of serum adiponetin in pre-mature neonates was significantly lower than that in term neonates ( P