Waist circumference is related to low-grade inflammation in youth.
OBJECTIVE
To examine markers of inflammation in 9- and 15-year-olds with high waist circumference and compare these with controls, and to examine the relationships between inflammatory markers and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of data from 2 299 Norwegian 9- and 15-year-olds participating in the "Physical activity among Norwegian Children Study". In each sex and age group, the 10 participants with the highest waist circumference (HW) were selected (n=40) for analyses, and a random sample of 40 participants within the same groups were included as controls. Inflammatory markers included C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin, adiponectin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), resistin and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The CVD risk factors included blood pressure, glucose, insulin, triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol.


RESULTS
HW participants had elevated levels of CRP (mean difference 1.50 mg/l; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33 to 2.66), PAI-1 (mean difference 13.3 ng/ml; 95% CI 4.1 to 22.5) and HGF (mean difference 0.29 ng/ml; 95% CI 0.07 to 0.51) compared with controls. All CVD risk factors differed between the HW group and controls. The CVD risk factors were not associated with TNFalpha or IL-6, but CRP, HGF and PAI-1 were related to the metabolic risk score.


CONCLUSIONS
Low grade systemic inflammation is already present in youth with high waist circumference. CRP, HGF and PAI-1 may be related to the adverse overall metabolic risk profile observed in these children and adolescents.
Steene-Johannessen
Jostein
J
Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway. jostein.steene-johannessen@nih.no
Kolle
Elin
E
Reseland
Janne E
JE
Anderssen
Sigmund A
SA
Andersen
Lars Bo
LB
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference
D015415:Biomarkers; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D002097:C-Reactive Protein