title: Serum sialic acid, hs-CRP and oxidative stress parameters in obese children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is a common health problem that is rapidly increasing among children. Obesity is accompanied by a high incidence of atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. We tested the hypothesis that the risk for atherosclerosis may be increased in obese children and measured some risk factors for atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined sialic acid levels and investigated correlations with malondialdehyde (MDA), susceptibility to oxidation, total thiol concentrations, glucose and lipid profile in 39 obese (BMI 26.6 +/- 3.9) and 33 sex- and age-matched healthy children (BMI 15.9 +/- 1.7).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MDA concentrations, susceptibility to oxidation and hs-CRP were significantly higher in obese children than controls. Sialic acid and total thiol concentrations were higher in controls but this did not reach statistical significance. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and glucose concentrations were significantly higher in the obese group and there was a positive correlation between BMI and MDA, susceptibility to oxidation, hs-CRP and glucose concentrations, and a negative correlation between BMI and HDL-cholesterol. Although sialic acid levels were not different between the groups, they showed a correlation with hs-CRP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A higher risk was found in obese children in relation to oxidative stress parameters, hs-CRP and lipid profile, and this risk showed a positive correlation with BMI. These results are important because children will encounter this increased risk for a longer time than adults, and taking care of obesity in childhood is especially important.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, Ankara Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma Meriç
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Gülsen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Senay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savas Erdeve
authors.forename: Yildiz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dallar
authors.forename: B Cigdem
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Topkaya
authors.forename: Dogan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yücel
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid