Inflammatory markers and metabolic syndrome among adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
The alarming increase in obesity worldwide is of concern, owing to the associations of obesity with metabolic syndrome (MetS), which has been associated with a proinflammatory state characterized by elevated plasma concentrations of several markers of inflammation. The aim of this study was to assess levels of inflammatory markers and their association with MetS among adolescents.


METHODS
A random sample of adolescents (n=362, 143 boys and 219 girls, 12-17 years) was interviewed, anthropometrically measured and provided a fasting blood sample. Circulating levels of adiponectin, leptin, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), interleukin-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured. The association between inflammatory markers and sex, age, body mass index (BMI) status, MetS, physical activity and blood pressure was also calculated.


RESULTS
Adiponectin levels are inversely associated and leptin levels are directly associated with MetS and BMI, but directly with gender (females show higher levels than boys), and PAI-1 levels are directly associated with MetS, among adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
Leptin, adiponectin and PAI-1 may be used as biomarkers to predict MetS among adolescents.
Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress, University of Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
M
M
González
M
M
del Mar Bibiloni
A
A
Pons
I
I
Llompart
J A
JA
Tur
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008521:Mediterranean Islands / Q000453:epidemiology; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015854:Up-Regulation
C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D020738:Leptin; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; C051321:SERPINE1 protein, human; D002097:C-Reactive Protein