Impact of obesity on metabolic syndrome components and adipokines in prepubertal children.
OBJECTIVE
To verify the impact of obesity on metabolic syndrome components and adipokine levels in prepubertal children.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study compared 30 obese, 31 overweight and 33 eutrophic children attending a university hospital-based outpatient pediatric clinic. Parameters assessed included glucose, serum lipids, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), glucose/insulin relation, adiponectin, and leptin. We compared the frequency of acanthosis nigricans and changes in waist, blood pressure, glucose, serum lipids, and insulin. The correlation between body mass index (BMI) z score and adipokines was evaluated.


RESULTS
Among obese children, there was a difference in the mean values of HDL cholesterol and adiponectin, whereas among the eutrophic children, there was a difference in the mean values of insulin, HOMA-IR, glucose/insulin relation, and leptin (p < 0.001). A difference was also observed regarding the frequency of acanthosis nigricans and alteration in waist and HDL cholesterol (p < 0.005) in the obese group. The BMI z score showed a positive correlation with leptin (p < 0.001) and a negative correlation with adiponectin (p = 0.001). In multiple linear regression, this correlation was maintained only for leptin; HDL-cholesterol correlated with adiponectin (p = 0.007) and HOMA-IR correlated with both variables (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings provide evidence of the influence of obesity on metabolic syndrome components and on adipokine levels in prepubertal children, indicating that these components may contribute to the beginning of cardiovascular diseases.
Madeira
Isabel R
IR
Outpatient Clinic for Childhood Obesity Research. isamadeira@oi.com.br
Carvalho
Cecilia N M
CN
Gazolla
Fernanda M
FM
Pinto
Liana W
LW
Borges
Marcos A
MA
Bordallo
Maria Alice N
MA
D000052:Acanthosis Nigricans / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology
D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D007328:Insulin