Relation of circulating oxidized LDL to obesity and insulin resistance in children.
BACKGROUND
Circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), a marker of oxidative stress, is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease in adults. However, little is known about its relation to insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk factors in children. The purpose of this study was to assess the relation of oxidative stress, measured by circulating oxidized LDL, with measures of adiposity and insulin resistance in children.


METHODS
Oxidized LDL, measures of body fatness (body mass index: BMI, percent body fat, waist circumference, percent trunk fat, abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat), insulin resistance with euglycemic insulin clamp (Mlbm), blood pressure, and blood lipids were obtained in 78 children. Oxidized LDL was compared between normal weight children (BMI < 85th percentile) and overweight/obese children (BMI ≥ 85th percentile) and levels were evaluated for associations with body fatness and insulin resistance.


RESULTS
Oxidized LDL levels were significantly higher in overweight/obese vs. normal weight children (p < 0.0001). Oxidized LDL was significantly correlated with BMI, percent body fat, waist circumference, percent trunk fat, abdominal visceral fat, and abdominal subcutaneous fat (all p-values <0.0001). Moreover, oxidized LDL was negatively correlated with Mlbm, even after adjustment for adiposity (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Oxidized LDL is significantly associated with adiposity and with insulin resistance, independent of body fatness, in children. Oxidative stress may be independently related to the development of insulin resistance early in life, especially in obese youth.
Kelly
Aaron S
AS
Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. kelly105@umn.edu
Jacobs
David R
DR
Sinaiko
Alan R
AR
Moran
Antoinette
A
Steffen
Lyn M
LM
Steinberger
Julia
J
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D012306:Risk
D008055:Lipids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein