title: Factors affecting carotid intima media thickness predicts early atherosclerosis in overweight and obese adolescents.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Aims of this study were to compare serum leptin levels, atherosclerotic markers and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) among the overweight, obese and normal weight healthy adolescents and to investigate the association of carotid IMT with leptin and atherosclerotic markers in adolescence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy obese-overweight adolescents (27 of them obese, 43 of them overweight) and 72 two normal weight adolescents aged 14-18 years were included in this study. Leptin and homocysteine levels and lipid profiles were determined and carotid IMT were measured in all adolescents. Subjects were evaluated as obese-overweight and normal weight and obese, overweight and normal weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carotid IMT was significantly different among the overweight adolescents, obese adolescents and the control group (p < 0.001). Leptin levels were significantly higher in obese-overweight adolescents compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Apolipoprotein (Apo) B levels were significantly higher in obese adolescents than the overweight ones and the control group (p < 0.016). There were significantly positive correlations of carotid IMT with leptin, homocysteine and Apo B levels (p < 0.05, r = 0.33, 0.28, 021, respectively). The factors associated with carotid IMT were leptin and ApoB levels (β = 0.632, p < 0.04, β = 0.264, p = 0.019, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subclinical atherosclerosis determined by carotid IMT begins in overweight adolescents. Elevated leptin and Apo B levels are independent predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis. Leptin resistance, which is related to subclinical atherosclerosis, also begins in overweight adolescents. High Apo B levels, which promote development of atherosclerosis are more prominent in obese adolescents than other groups. For these reasons, all necessary precautions should be taken in overweight adolescents to prevent atherosclerosis as well as in obese adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Celal Bayar University, Medical School, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Isıl
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ozguven
authors.affiliation: Celal Bayar University, Medical School, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Manisa, Turkey. Electronic address:betul.ersoy@bayar.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Betul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ersoy
authors.affiliation: Celal Bayar University, Medical School, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aykan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozguven
authors.affiliation: Celal Bayar University, Medical School, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozkol
authors.affiliation: Celal Bayar University, Medical School, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ece
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Onur