Increased leptin/adiponectin ratio and free leptin index are markers of insulin resistance in obese girls during pubertal development.
BACKGROUND
Modifications in body fat in obese patients during puberty determine changes in adipokines that affect insulin sensitivity.


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that the leptin/adiponectin (L/A) ratio and free leptin index (FLI) are good markers of insulin resistance (IR) and total body fat (TBF) during pubertal development.


METHODS
A prospective study of 32 obese girls (OG) and age-matched control girls (CG) was performed. OG were divided into those that maintained a weight loss (WL) of >1 SD of initial body mass index (BMI) (WL group, n = 25) and those without WL (NWL group, n = 7). Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were performed to evaluate IR. Correlations of adipokines, L/A, and FLI with BMI, waist circumference, percentage of TBF (%TBF) and IR were performed over pubertal development.


RESULTS
The L/A ratio and FLI were increased in OG at baseline. Both indexes decreased in the WL group as puberty progressed, with no change in CG or NWL. In the WL group, a correlation between L/A and FLI with OGTT and %TBF, and L/A and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was found throughout the study.


CONCLUSIONS
The L/A ratio and FLI are good markers to follow changes in IR and %TBF after WL during puberty. Insulin more accurately reflects the changes in IR than HOMA.
Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Ruber Internacional, Madrid, Spain.
M A
MA
Donoso
M T
MT
Muñoz-Calvo
V
V
Barrios
G
G
Martínez
F
F
Hawkins
J
J
Argente
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood*; D055105:Waist Circumference
D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D020738:Leptin