title: Prevalence and cluster of cardiometabolic biomarkers in overweight and obese schoolchildren: results from a large survey in southwest Germany.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is associated with substantial metabolic changes and subclinical inflammation. We explored associations between body mass index (BMI) and cardiometabolic biomarkers and their clustering in overweight and obese schoolchildren.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this population-based, cross-sectional study among 450 children 10 years old, we measured adiponectin, leptin, inflammatory markers, apolipoprotein (apo) AI and B, and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)). Except for adiponectin and apoAI (10th percentile) the 90th percentile was used as cutoff point. Body weight was categorized in age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles and overweight and obesity according to International Obesity Task Force definitions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In linear regression models, all cardiometabolic markers except apoB were statistically significantly associated with overweight. In logistic regression models, compared with the reference category (25th-75th percentile of BMI), overweight was associated with increased concentrations of leptin [odds ratio (OR) 59.80; 95% CI 16.68-214.39], C-reactive protein (6.30; 2.95-13.45), fibrinogen (2.82; 1.33-6.01), and low apoAI (2.62; 1.19-5.75). Overweight was positively associated with interleukin-6, Lp-PLA(2), and apoB concentrations and inversely with adiponectin concentrations. Most importantly, in obese children 35% showed one, 20% two, 10% three, and 15% four or more abnormal cardiometabolic biomarkers. The number of abnormal cardiometabolic markers increased in overweight (p(trend) <0.001) and obese (p(trend) <0.001) children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overweight and obesity in children are associated with complex metabolic changes and a low-grade inflammatory response, and thus might not only accelerate cardiovascular disease later on, but may also be associated with the initiation of atherosclerosis in early life.
authors: Institute of Epidemiology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany. gabriele.nagel@uni-ulm.de
authors: Gabriele
authors: G
authors: Nagel
authors: Kilian
authors: K
authors: Rapp
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Wabitsch
authors: Gisela
authors: G
authors: Büchele
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Kroke
authors: Iris
authors: I
authors: Zöllner
authors: Stephan K
authors: SK
authors: Weiland
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Koenig
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D015850:Interleukin-6; D020738:Leptin; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase