Noninvasive evaluation of endothelial function and arterial mechanics in overweight adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate endothelial function and arterial mechanics in apparently healthy overweight adolescents.


METHODS
Analytical observational study.


METHODS
Tertiary hospital.


METHODS
40 asymptomatic, normotensive and non-smoking adolescents (11 to 18 years old) were evaluated. Of these 20 were overweight or obese as per International Obesity Task Force criteria while 20 were controls. High resolution ultrasonography was performed to measure flow mediated and Glyceryltrinitrate induced dilation in brachial artery, and arterial mechanics in common carotid artery.


RESULTS
Overweight adolescents had significantly lower ratio of flow mediated dilation to Glyceryltrinitrate mediated dilation (0.40 plusminus 0.41 versus 0.61 plusminus 0.17; P = 0.039). On age and sex adjusted multiple regression analysis, the ratio of flow mediated to Glyceryltrinitrate mediated dilation had a significant negative association with body mass index (P = 0.012) and mean skin fold thickness (P = 0.011). However, for mean skin fold thickness, flow mediated dilation also had a significant negative association (P = 0.027). None of the measures of arterial mechanics were significantly different amongst overweights and controls, or significantly associated with either body mass index or mean skin fold thickness.


CONCLUSIONS
Endothelial function can be mildly impaired in apparently healthy adolescents who are overweight (assessed by body mass index) or adipose (assessed by skin fold thickness). The use of overweight for screening adolescents likely to develop coronary artery disease is therefore justified. Skin fold thickness is a better indicator than Body Mass Index for predicting endothelial function.
Kumar
Vishal
V
Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi 110 002, India.
Sachdev
H P S
HP
Khalil
Anita
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology; D050177:Overweight / Q000502:physiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D014463:Ultrasonography
D005996:Nitroglycerin