title: Homocysteine and nitric oxide are related to blood pressure and vascular function in small-for-gestational-age children.
abstract: Leptin, homocysteine (Hcy), and C-reactive protein are risk factors potentially useful in predicting future cardiac events. These plasma biomarkers may participate in the regulation of cardiovascular function through an NO-dependent mechanism. Our purpose was to investigate whether alterations in C-reactive protein, Hcy, leptin, and NO are present in small-for-gestational-age children and to determine whether the levels of these plasma biomarkers are associated with birth weight, vascular function, and blood pressure. Concentrations of leptin, Hcy, C-reactive protein, and NO were measured in 69 children (36 boys and 33 girls; ages 8 to 13 years). Leptin (means difference: 1.4 ng/mL; 95% CI: 0.4 to 2.4) and Hcy (means difference: 0.9 micromol/L; 95% CI: 0.3 to 1.5) levels were significantly elevated in children born small for gestational age compared with those with appropriate birth weight. Nevertheless, NO (means difference: 342.9 micromol; 95% CI: 124.2 to 561.6) concentration was significantly reduced in small birth weight children, and the levels of C-reactive protein remained unchanged. There was a significant association between the circulating levels of both NO and Hcy with vascular function, as well as with blood pressure levels, in our population. Because both Hcy and NO are associated with a risk of cardiovascular disease, it is possible that part of the association of low birth weight with elevated risk for vascular and metabolic disease in later life is mediated by perturbation in pathways for these biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. mdcfranco@nefro.epm.br
authors.forename: Maria C P
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Elisa M S
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Higa
authors.forename: Vânia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'Almeida
authors.forename: Fernanda G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.forename: Ana L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sawaya
authors.forename: Zuleica B
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Fortes
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sesso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D047929:Term Birth
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020738:Leptin; D006710:Homocysteine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002097:C-Reactive Protein