title: The association of retinol-binding protein 4 with metabolic syndrome and obesity in adolescents: the effects of gender and sex hormones.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) has a role in the development of insulin resistance (IR), type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome among adults. However, data among adolescents are limited, and the effects of gender and sex hormones on RBP4 are not well defined.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1082 adolescents were enrolled and categorized based on their body mass index. Blood samples were collected, and biochemical characteristics, sex hormones, RBP4 concentrations, and IR were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Testosterone and estradiol were not directly correlated with RBP4 concentrations in both genders. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglyceride (TG), and testosterone levels were independently associated with RBP4 concentrations in boys; also, there was a trend of increasing RBP4 levels with the severity of obesity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma RBP4 concentrations correlated with obesity and cardiovascular risk factors, predominantly evident in boys. Testosterone, FPG, and TG levels were independent predictors of RBP4 concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin-Jung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Nain Feng
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Yi-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Jin-Biou
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chih-Tsueng
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Fone-Ching
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Chang-Hsun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity; D012044:Regression Analysis; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; C101326:RBP4 protein, human; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D014280:Triglycerides; D013739:Testosterone