Nesibe Akyürek1, Zehra Aycan2, Semra Çetinkaya2, Ömer Akyürek3, Sebahat Yilmaz Ağladioğlu1, Ülker Ertan1. 1. a Department of Pediatrics. 2. b Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Dr. Sami Ulus Obstetrics and Gynecology, Children's Health and Disease Training and Research Hospital , Ankara. 3. c Department of Internal Medicine, Mevlana Universiy School of Medicine , Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear proteins that regulate transcriptional responses to peroxisome proliferators. There has been limited research concerned with the childhood expression of these receptors. In this study, we aimed to evaluate PPAR-gamma (PPAR-γ) concentrations and their relationship to body mass index (BMI), ratio of waist and hip, blood pressure levels, insulin resistance and lipid profile in obese children and adolescents. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Children aged 8-16 years old were included in the study; 44 obese children and 25 healthy children were taken into the study. Blood pressure and waist-hip circumference of obese patients were measured. Following a 12-hour nighttime fasting, venous blood samples were taken, including blood glucose, insulin, lipid profile, liver function tests and PPAR-γ concentrations, and all samples were analyzed at the same time. FINDINGS: PPAR-γ concentrations were 0.226 + 0.128 in obese children and 0.547 + 0.546 in the control group. PPAR-γ concentrations were lower in obese children and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.008). PPAR-γ concentrations of control children were 2.42-fold higher than obese children. There was a negative correlation between PPAR-γ concentrations and waist circumference, and a positive correlation between birth weight and PPAR-γ concentrations in obese children. CONCLUSION: In our study we found that PPAR-γ concentrations were low in obese children. In adults, treatment modalities aimed at enhancing the activation of PPAR in obesity lead to a decrease in obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease and this gives hope that similar treatment modalities can be used for children.
BACKGROUND: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear proteins that regulate transcriptional responses to peroxisome proliferators. There has been limited research concerned with the childhood expression of these receptors. In this study, we aimed to evaluate PPAR-gamma (PPAR-γ) concentrations and their relationship to body mass index (BMI), ratio of waist and hip, blood pressure levels, insulin resistance and lipid profile in obesechildren and adolescents. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Children aged 8-16 years old were included in the study; 44 obesechildren and 25 healthy children were taken into the study. Blood pressure and waist-hip circumference of obesepatients were measured. Following a 12-hour nighttime fasting, venous blood samples were taken, including blood glucose, insulin, lipid profile, liver function tests and PPAR-γ concentrations, and all samples were analyzed at the same time. FINDINGS:PPAR-γ concentrations were 0.226 + 0.128 in obesechildren and 0.547 + 0.546 in the control group. PPAR-γ concentrations were lower in obesechildren and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.008). PPAR-γ concentrations of control children were 2.42-fold higher than obesechildren. There was a negative correlation between PPAR-γ concentrations and waist circumference, and a positive correlation between birth weight and PPAR-γ concentrations in obesechildren. CONCLUSION: In our study we found that PPAR-γ concentrations were low in obesechildren. In adults, treatment modalities aimed at enhancing the activation of PPAR in obesity lead to a decrease in obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease and this gives hope that similar treatment modalities can be used for children.