title: Adiponectin associates positively with nitrite levels in children and adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the circulating levels of adiponectin and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability in eutrophic, eutrophic hypertensive, obese, and obese hypertensive children and adolescents, and to assess whether adiponectin is associated with increased NO bioavailability in these children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 129 eutrophic, 8 eutrophic hypertensive, 91 obese, and 44 obese hypertensive children and adolescents in this cross-sectional study. Adiponectin concentrations were measured in plasma samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To assess NO bioavailability, nitrite concentrations were measured in whole-blood samples by chemiluminescence. Multiple linear regression analysis was carried out to assess the effects of adiponectin on NO bioavailability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no significant differences in nitrite levels among groups (P>0.05). The obese hypertensive group had the lowest adiponectin levels among groups (P<0.05). Additionally, obese subjects had lower adiponectin levels than eutrophic individuals (P<0.05). A multiple linear regression analysis showed that NO bioavailability was positively associated with adiponectin concentrations (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that adiponectin increases NO bioavailability in children and adolescents. Further studies are needed to assess the cardiovascular protective role for this adipokine in childhood obesity.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
authors: V A
authors: VA
authors: Belo
authors: D C
authors: DC
authors: Souza-Costa
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Lacchini
authors: J T
authors: JT
authors: Sertório
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Lanna
authors: V P
authors: VP
authors: Carmo
authors: J E
authors: JE
authors: Tanus-Santos
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001682:Biological Availability; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide