title: Pro-inflammatory triggers in childhood obesity: correlation between leptin, adiponectin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in a group of obese Portuguese children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pediatric obesity is increasingly prevalent in the Portuguese population. Adipocyte dysfunction results in the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators that are responsible for the low-grade inflammatory process that characterizes obesity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between markers of adiposity, inflammation and adipokines in a Portuguese obese pediatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty children of both sexes, aged 6-17 years, were included in this study. The control group consisted of 41 healthy normal-weight children. The variables analyzed were age, gender, body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass percentage, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), leptin and adiponectin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences between controls and obese children for all parameters analyzed. In the obese group, after controlling for age and gender, hs-CRP (p=0.041), adiponectin (p=0.019) and leptin (p<0.001) still showed significant statistical differences. A direct correlation was found between hs-CRP, leptin, body mass index and waist circumference, the strongest being with leptin (r=0.568; p<0.001). This trend remained statistically significant, regardless of gender or pubertal age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the role of leptin, adiponectin and hs-CRP in the genesis of endothelial dysfunction, they may be used in clinical practice for risk stratification, as well as in the assessment of weight control programs.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE, Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: pires1961@gmail.com.
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Fisiologia, Instituto de Imagem Biomédica e Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Margarida
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marinho
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaz Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Estatística, Instituto de Imagem Biomédica e Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castela
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Fisiologia, Instituto de Imagem Biomédica e Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sena
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Fisiologia, Instituto de Imagem Biomédica e Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seiça
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D011174:Portugal
chemical_list: C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D020738:Leptin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Adiponectin; Adiponectina; High-sensitivity C-reactive protein; Leptin; Leptina; Obesidade; Obesity; Pediatria; Pediatric; Proteína-C-reativa ultrassensível