Changes in serum interleukin-6 concentrations in obese children and adolescents during a weight reduction program.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of short term energy restriction combined with physical activity on serum concentrations of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in obese children and adolescents.


METHODS
Longitudinal intervention study of 3.8-5 MJ daily with exercise.


METHODS
Forty-nine white obese children and adolescents (31 girls, age 11.9+/-1.8 y; 18 boys, age 11.6+/-1.7 y).


METHODS
Indexes of obesity, IL-6, leptin, estradiol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate at baseline and after 3 weeks.


RESULTS
All determined parameters decreased significantly during the 3 week program (IL-6: 3.9+/-4.7 vs 2.0+/-2.2 pg/ml; P<0.05). Body mass index (BMI) fat mass, percentage fat mass (indexes of obesity), and leptin were not related to IL-6 before the program. In contrast, IL-6 concentrations correlated significantly with indexes of obesity and leptin after weight loss. IL-6 concentrations did not correlate with estradiol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate. Changes in IL-6 concentrations correlated significantly with changes in BMI (r=0.25, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
An improved body composition induced by restriction of energy intake and increase in physical activity is associated with more favorable serum concentrations of IL-6 in obese children and adolescents.
Gallistl
S
S
Ludwig-Boltzmann Research Institute for Pediatric Hemostasis and Thrombosis, University of Graz, Graz, Austria. Siegfried.gallistl@kfunigraz.ac.at
Sudi
K M
KM
Aigner
R
R
Borkenstein
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D015431:Weight Loss
D015850:Interleukin-6; D020738:Leptin; D004958:Estradiol