title: Body mass index is directly associated with biomarkers of angiogenesis and inflammation in children and adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Childhood obesity is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis, which can be mediated by an increase in angiogenesis and inflammation. The objective was to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and circulating biomarkers of angiogenesis, inflammation, and cardiac dysfunction in children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Genetic Park Study is a highly inclusive survey conducted in three isolated villages of southern Italy. One hundred fifty-one children and adolescents (age range 5-17 y, 45% male) were included and categorized as obese (BMI z-score ≥ 1.64, n = 38) or non-obese (n = 113). Metabolic and cardiovascular biomarkers included glucose, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor, soluble feline sarcoma virus (fms)-like tyrosine kinase-1, highly sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP), highly sensitive troponin T (hs-TnT), and N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obese subjects had higher levels of triacylglycerol (P = 0.03) and hs-CRP (P = 0.02) after adjustment for age and gender. Circulating levels of VEGF were directly associated with BMI z-score (r = 0.22, P = 0.007) and hs-CRP (r = 0.33, P < 0.001). BMI z-score was not associated with biomarkers of cardiac dysfunction (hs-TnT and NT-proBNP).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increasing BMI was associated with plasma levels hs-CRP and VEGF, which are involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. The lack of association between BMI and markers of cardiac damage (hs-TnT) or ventricular volume overload (NT-proBNP) suggest that atherosclerotic risk may still at a preclinical stage in this population of obese but otherwise healthy young individuals. Collectively, this suite of biomarkers could provide mechanistic insights into the physiopathologic progression of cardiovascular risk associated with childhood obesity.
authors: Human Nutrition and Physiology, Department of Neuroscience, University "Federico II", Faculty of Medicine, Naples, Italy.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Siervo
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Ruggiero
authors: Rossella
authors: R
authors: Sorice
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Nutile
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Aversano
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Iafusco
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Vetrano
authors: Jonathan C
authors: JC
authors: Wells
authors: Blossom C
authors: BC
authors: Stephan
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Ciullo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007558:Italy; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D020107:Troponin T / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D020107:Troponin T; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol