Diet determines features of the metabolic syndrome in 6- to 14-year-old children.
OBJECTIVE
Insulin resistance (IR) and hypertension are common in overweight children, and the adipocyte-derived hormones resistin, adiponectin, and leptin may modulate IR and blood pressure (BP). Few data exist in children on dietary determinants of IR, BP, or leptin, and no data exist on dietary determinants of resistin and adiponectin. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate dietary determinants of IR, BP, resistin, adiponectin, and leptin concentrations, as well as the interrelationship among these variables, in normal and overweight children.


METHODS
In 6- to 14-year-old Swiss children (n=79), nutritional intake was assessed using two 24-hour-recalls and a one-day dietary record. Body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF%), waist/hip ratio (W/H ratio), BP, glucose, insulin, resistin, adiponectin, and leptin were determined. IR was calculated using the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI).


RESULTS
BMI, BF%, and W/H ratio were significant predictors of leptin and insulin, QUICKI, and systolic BP, but not resistin or adiponectin. Of the overweight and obese children, 40% were diagnosed pre-hypertensive or hypertensive. Total energy, fat, saturated fat, and protein intakes were significant predictors of fasting insulin and QUICKI, and total fat, saturated fat, and monounsaturated fat intakes were significant predictors of systolic BP, independent of BMI standard deviation score (BMI-SDS) and age. There were no associations between these dietary factors and leptin, adiponectin, or resistin.


CONCLUSIONS
In children, dietary macronutrient composition is a predictor of IR and systolic BP, but not resistin, adiponectin, or leptin concentrations. Resistin and adiponectin concentrations are not correlated with IR or BP in this age range.
Aeberli
Isabelle
I
Human Nutrition Laboratory, Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. isabelle.aeberli@ilw.agrl.ethz.ch
Spinas
Giatgen A
GA
Lehmann
Roger
R
l'Allemand
Dagmar
D
Molinari
Luciano
L
Zimmermann
Michael B
MB
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D007899:Leisure Activities; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D009043:Motor Activity; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009765:Obesity; D050177:Overweight; D012044:Regression Analysis; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D052242:Adiponectin; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D020738:Leptin; D052243:Resistin