Low-grade systemic inflammation, hypoadiponectinemia and a high concentration of leptin are present in very young obese children, and correlate with metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the concentration levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin and adiponectin in obese pre-pubertal children, and their possible relation with metabolic syndrome, fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1.


METHODS
A study was carried out in 51 obese children (aged 6 to 9 years) and the same number of non-obese children (control group), matched by age and sex. (Cross-sectional study of obese children). Body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR) and blood pressure were determined for each child. Serum CRP, leptin, adiponectin, glucose, insulin, lipid profile, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and fibrinogen were all measured.


RESULTS
The levels of CRP serum (1.67+/-0.222 vs 0.92+/-0.16 mg/l) and leptin (15.56+/-1.27 vs 4.68+/-0.62 ng/ml) were significantly higher in obese children. The adiponectin level was significantly higher in non-obese children (11.58+/-0.63 vs 9.64+/-0.49 microg/dl). In the obese group, log. CRP showed a positive correlation with BMI, insulin, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), uric acid, PAI-1, fibrinogen and interleukin 6 (IL-6), and correlated negatively with apolipoprotein A-I and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The leptin was positively correlated with BMI, insulin, HOMA, triglycerides and PAI-1 and negatively with Apo A-I and HDL-C. Adiponectin correlated negatively with BMI, insulin, HOMA, and triglycerides.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-grade systemic inflammation, elevated leptin concentration and low adiponectin level are described in very young obese children, correlating with a range of variables of metabolic syndrome. Inflammation and adipocytokines can play an important role in the etiopathogeny of metabolic syndrome.
Valle
M
M
Basic Health Zone of Pozoblanco Córdoba, Spain. laboratorio.asnc.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es
Martos
R
R
Gascón
F
F
Cañete
R
R
Zafra
M A
MA
Morales
R
R
D052242:Adiponectin; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood
D052242:Adiponectin; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020738:Leptin; D008055:Lipids; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein