António Pires1, Paula Martins2, Ana Margarida Pereira3, Joana Marinho2, Patrícia Vaz Silva2, Margarida Marques4, Eduardo Castela2, Cristina Sena3, Raquel Seiça3. 1. Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE, Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: pires1961@gmail.com. 2. Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE, Coimbra, Portugal. 3. Laboratório de Fisiologia, Instituto de Imagem Biomédica e Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 4. Laboratório de Estatística, Instituto de Imagem Biomédica e Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Pediatric obesity is increasingly prevalent in the Portuguese population. Adipocyte dysfunction results in the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators that are responsible for the low-grade inflammatory process that characterizes obesity. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between markers of adiposity, inflammation and adipokines in a Portuguese obese pediatric population. METHODS: One hundred and twenty children of both sexes, aged 6-17 years, were included in this study. The control group consisted of 41 healthy normal-weight children. The variables analyzed were age, gender, body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass percentage, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), leptin and adiponectin. RESULTS: There were significant differences between controls and obese children for all parameters analyzed. In the obese group, after controlling for age and gender, hs-CRP (p=0.041), adiponectin (p=0.019) and leptin (p<0.001) still showed significant statistical differences. A direct correlation was found between hs-CRP, leptin, body mass index and waist circumference, the strongest being with leptin (r=0.568; p<0.001). This trend remained statistically significant, regardless of gender or pubertal age. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the role of leptin, adiponectin and hs-CRP in the genesis of endothelial dysfunction, they may be used in clinical practice for risk stratification, as well as in the assessment of weight control programs.
INTRODUCTION:Pediatric obesity is increasingly prevalent in the Portuguese population. Adipocyte dysfunction results in the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators that are responsible for the low-grade inflammatory process that characterizes obesity. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between markers of adiposity, inflammation and adipokines in a Portuguese obese pediatric population. METHODS: One hundred and twenty children of both sexes, aged 6-17 years, were included in this study. The control group consisted of 41 healthy normal-weight children. The variables analyzed were age, gender, body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass percentage, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), leptin and adiponectin. RESULTS: There were significant differences between controls and obesechildren for all parameters analyzed. In the obese group, after controlling for age and gender, hs-CRP (p=0.041), adiponectin (p=0.019) and leptin (p<0.001) still showed significant statistical differences. A direct correlation was found between hs-CRP, leptin, body mass index and waist circumference, the strongest being with leptin (r=0.568; p<0.001). This trend remained statistically significant, regardless of gender or pubertal age. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the role of leptin, adiponectin and hs-CRP in the genesis of endothelial dysfunction, they may be used in clinical practice for risk stratification, as well as in the assessment of weight control programs.
Authors: Heloísa Marcelina da Cunha Palhares; Adriana Paula da Silva; Daniela Cristina Silva Resende; Gilberto de Araújo Pereira; Virmondes Rodrigues; Maria de Fátima Borges Journal: Clinics (Sao Paulo) Date: 2017-01-01 Impact factor: 2.365