Oxidative stress in obesity and metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations in the oxidant/antioxidant status in obese children with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS).


METHODS
We recruited 25 Caucasian obese children with MetS, 30 Caucasian children with simple obesity and a control group of 30 Caucasian children. We performed diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) test and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) test in order to evaluate the oxidant-antioxidant status in recruited patients.


RESULTS
d-ROM level was significantly higher in obese children with and without MetS (p = 0.005). The total antioxidant capacity (BAP level) was reduced in MetS and noMetS children compared to controls (p = 0.009). The subjects without MetS had higher d-ROMs test and lower BAP/d-ROMs ratio than subjects with MetS (although not significant). The ratio BAP/d-ROMs was higher in controls than noMetS and MetS children (p < 0.0001). d-ROM level was higher in prepubertal subjects with MetS than pubertal ones (p = 0.03). A direct correlation was found between d-ROM levels and BMI SDS (p = 0.0005), while an inverse correlation was found between BAP and BMI SDS (p = 0.004) and BAP/d-ROMs and BMI SDS (p = 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
This result confirms that fat accumulation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of systemic oxidative stress already during pediatric age.
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari 'A. Moro', Bari, Italy.
Maria Felicia
MF
Faienza
Ruggiero
R
Francavilla
Rocco
R
Goffredo
Annamaria
A
Ventura
Flaviana
F
Marzano
Gianvito
G
Panzarino
Grazia
G
Marinelli
Luciano
L
Cavallo
Giovanna
G
Di Bitonto
D000293:Adolescent; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000097:blood*
D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species