[Early markers for atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome in children].
BACKGROUND
The high prevalence of obesity in children favors the appearance of metabolic syndrome (MS), increasing their cardiovascular risk.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate components of MS in children and to correlate them with surrogate markers of atherosclerosis and subclinical inflammation.


METHODS
We studied 209 children aged 11.5 +/- 2 years (50% girls, 30% prepuberal). Fifty percent had normal weight, 18% were overweight, 29% were obese and 3% were undernourished. A fasting blood sample was obtained to measure lipid levels, glucose, insulin, adiponectin and ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (usCRP). Subclinical atherosclerosis was evaluated using flow mediated dilatation of brachial artery (FMD) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). For diagnosis of MS we adapted Cook's criteria.


RESULTS
Five percent of all children and 18% of those with overweight had MS. Children with more components had significantly higher fasting insulin and Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) values. Clustering of MS components was also associated to higher values of usCRP and non significantly to lower adiponectin levels. We did not find differences in FMD. In obese children there was a tendency towards a higher IMT with clustering of MS components, although not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with overweight presented a higher risk of a clustering of MS components, which was also associated with insulin resistance and increase in ultrasensitive C reactive protein.
Barja
Salesa
S
Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. sbarja@puc.cl
Acevedo
Mónica
M
Arnaiz
Pilar
P
Berríos
Ximena
X
Bambs
Claudia
C
Guzmán
Beatriz
B
Carvajal
Jacqueline
J
Cassis
Berta
B
Navarrete
Carlos
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein