Reduced antioxidant status in obese children with multimetabolic syndrome.
BACKGROUND
In our previous study, the negative correlation found between plasma insulin levels and plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations suggested that decreased antioxidant vitamin levels and reduced antioxidant capacity might be a characteristic feature of obese children with multimetabolic syndrome (MMS).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate lipid-soluble antioxidant vitamin levels and total antioxidant status (TAS) in obese children with and without MMS and in controls.


METHODS
In total, 16 control children (age: 16.2+/-1.1 y, BMI: 20.7+/-1.9 kg/m(2), body fat (BF): 25.6+/-5.7%; mean+/-s.d.), 15 obese children (age: 13.4+/-2.1 y, BMI: 34.2+/-3.1 kg/m(2), BF: 36.9+/-5.8%,) and 17 obese children without MMS (age: 14.4+/-2.3 y, BMI: 30.4+/-6.2 kg/m(2), BF: 36.3+/-5.8%) were included in the study.


METHODS
Body composition was determined by anthropometric methods. Vitamin analysis was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography and TAS of the plasma was measured with commercially available kits. Plasma glucose, lipids and insulin were measured by standard laboratory methods.


RESULTS
Plasma alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene levels corrected for plasma lipids (cholesterol + triglyceride) were significantly (P<0.05) lower in obese children with MMS (2.4 (3.1) micromol/mmol and 12.3 (24.0) pmol/mmol, respectively, median (range from the first to the third quartile)), than in the obese without MMS (3.7 (0.9) micromol/mmol and 48.2 (27.7) pmol/mmol) and in the control group (3.8 (0.7) micromol/mmol and 86.6 (44.5) pmol/mmol). Plasma TAS values of the MMS group (1.2 (0.4) mmol/l) were also significantly (P<0.05) reduced as compared to obese children without MMS (1.62 (0.14) mmol/l) and to controls (1.58 (0.21) mmol/l).


CONCLUSIONS
Obese children with MMS are prone to oxidative stress. Further investigations are necessary to determine if these children may benefit from vitamin E and beta-carotene supplementation.
Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, University of Pécs, 7623 Pécs, Hungary. denes.molnar@aok.pte.hu
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Molnár
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Decsi
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Koletzko
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D014815:Vitamins