title: Plasma concentrations of retinol in obese children and adolescents: relationship to metabolic syndrome components.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate obese children and adolescents' retinol plasma levels and to correlate them with metabolic syndrome components.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study with 61 obese children and adolescents (body mass index Z score - ZBMI>+2). Pubertal development, arterial blood pressure, body weight and height for nutritional classification and waist circumference were obtained. A 15 mL blood sample was collected (after a 12-hour fasting in a low luminosity room) for retinol determination (cut-off inadequate if <30 µg/dL), lipid profile (HDL-c, LDL-c, and triglycerides), oral glucose tolerance test (fasting and 120 minutes) and for high sensitivity C-reactive protein. Spearman correlation and multiple linear regression were used in the statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 10.7±2.7 years. There was a predominance of male gender 38/61 (62%) and pre-pubertal 35/61 (57%) subjects. The average plasmatic retinol was 48.5±18.6 ug/dL. Retinol deficiency and severe obesity were observed in 6/61 (10%) and 36/61 (59%), respectively. Glucose level at 120 minutes was the independent and predictive variable of plasma retinol levels [β=-0.286 (95%CI -0.013 - -0.001)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An independent and inverse association between plasma retinol levels and glucose tolerance was observed, suggesting an important contribution of this vitamin in the morbidities associated to obesity in children and adolescents.
authors.affiliation: FMABC, Santo Andre, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Márcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teske
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula B
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Melges
authors.affiliation: FMABC, Santo Andre, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fabiola Isabel S
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: FMABC, Santo Andre, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fernando Luiz A
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: FMABC, Santo Andre, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Roseli Oselka S
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Sarni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A