The effect of puberty on insulin resistance in obese children.
OBJECTIVE
Insulin resistance (IR) increases during puberty in normal children. IR is the first adverse metabolic event of obesity, and the marker of the metabolic syndrome. We aimed to study the effect of puberty on IR in obese and normal-weight children.


METHODS
Cross-sectional evaluation of fasting glucose, insulin concentrations, and homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) in obese and control children throughout puberty.


METHODS
We recruited 424 obese children (207 pre-pubertal and 217 pubertal divided in Tanner stages 2-3, 4, and 5) and estimated IR using the HOMA-IR index. Data were compared to those obtained in 123 healthy normal-weight children (40 pre-pubertal and 83 pubertal divided in Tanner stages 2-3, 4, and 5).


RESULTS
In the obese children mean HOMA-IR increased progressively across Tanner stages, and was significantly higher in all groups (pre-pubertal and Tanner stages 2-3, 4, and 5) of obese than in control children. HOMA-IR was significantly correlated with BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
HOMA-IR in obese children increases at puberty more than in normal-weight children and does not return to pre-pubertal values at the end of puberty.
Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Microcitemico Hospital, ASL Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
S
S
Pilia
M R
MR
Casini
M L
ML
Foschini
L
L
Minerba
M C
MC
Musiu
V
V
Marras
P
P
Civolani
S
S
Loche
D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011627:Puberty / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin