title: Risk factors for subclinical atherosclerosis in diabetic and obese children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is considered a marker of early-onset atherosclerosis and it seems to predict cardiovascular events both in obese and diabetic subjects. We aimed to evaluate early signs of atherosclerosis and investigate for predisposing factors in children and adolescents affected by type 1 diabetes (T1DM) or obesity, comparing them with healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out of 71 enrolled subjects (mean age 12.8 ± 2.3 years), 26 had T1DM and 24 were obese, while 21 age- and sex-matched subjects acted as controls. cIMT was measured using standardized methods. Serum glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides and C-reactive protein levels were evaluated. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in obese subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diabetic and obese individuals showed higher cIMT mean values than healthy controls (p < 0.005). cIMT of the three examined segments correlated positively with fasting glucose levels and negatively with units of insulin/kg/day administered in T1DM individuals. A positive correlation between insulin levels (basal and after oral glucose load) and cIMT of common, internal and external carotid artery was found in obese subjects (p < 0.03). High density cholesterol levels represented a protective factor for cIMT in this latter group of the study population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show that cIMT correlates with high insulin levels (a sign of insulin resistance) in obese patients and with high fasting glucose levels (a sign of relative insulin deficiency) in T1DM subjects, confirming the need of reducing hyperinsulinism and monitoring blood glucose levels in these subjects to prevent atherosclerosis.
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari "A. Moro", Bari, Italy. mariafelicia.faienza@uniba.it
authors: Maria Felicia
authors: MF
authors: Faienza
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Acquafredda
authors: Riccardina
authors: R
authors: Tesse
authors: Vincenza
authors: V
authors: Luce
authors: Annamaria
authors: A
authors: Ventura
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Maggialetti
authors: Mariantonietta
authors: M
authors: Monteduro
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Giordano
authors: Luciano
authors: L
authors: Cavallo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002648:Child; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: atherosclerosis; carotid intima-media thickness; children.; obesity; type 1 diabetes