Plasma visfatin concentrations in childhood obesity: relationships with insulin resistance and anthropometric indices.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between plasma visfatin, insulin resistance, lipid profile and anthropometric measurements in obese children.


METHODS
Plasma levels of visfatin, insulin, glucose, lipid profile and anthropometric indices were determined in 30 obese children and compared with those in 30 age- and gender-matched non-obese children. Visfatin was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and logarithmically transformed to log visfatin for parametric comparisons.


RESULTS
The obese group had significantly elevated plasma visfatin, fasting glucose and insulin and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) values, as well as elevated lipid concentrations, compared with non-obese children. In the obese group log visfatin correlated positively with weight (p = 0.007), waist circumference (p = 0.007), hip circumference (p = 0.034), BMI (p = 0.005), insulin (p = 0.041) and HOMA (p = 0.044). No correlation was found between visfatin and lipid profile in obese children (p >0.05). Linear regression analysis revealed significant positive relationships between log visfatin and BMI (p = 0.005), insulin and BMI (p <0.001), and between HOMA and BMI (p <0.001) in the obese group but not in the control group. Multivariate regression analysis with log visfatin as a dependent variable showed that only BMI (p = 0.005) and bodyweight (p = 0.014) correlated positively with log visfatin in obese children.


CONCLUSIONS
An increased visfatin concentration may be associated with BMI and insulin resistance in obese children. Although these findings may lay a foundation for further hypotheses, the limited sample size in the present study means that longitudinal studies with more patients are needed.
Davutoglu
Mehmet
M
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey. drmdavutoglu@hotmail.com
Ozkaya
Mesut
M
Guler
Ekrem
E
Garipardic
Mesut
M
Gursoy
Halil
H
Karabiber
Hamza
H
Kilinc
Metin
M
D000293:Adolescent; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*
D008055:Lipids; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase