Endoglin and obestatin levels, cardiometabolic risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis in children aged 10-18 years.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate the early signs of atherosclerosis and to evaluate serum endoglin and obestatin levels as predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in obese children.


METHODS
A total of 95 children (60 obese and 35 controls) aged 10-18 years were included in the study. Their endoglin and obestatin levels and biochemical parameters were measured. The carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) responses were evaluated.


RESULTS
The cIMT values were higher (p < 0.001) and FMD responses were lower (p = 0.003) in the obese group than in the control group. A logistic regression multivariate analysis revealed that cIMT was independently associated with the body mass index (BMI) Z-score (β = 0.323, p = 0.003) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) (β = 0.29, p = 0.008), while FMD % was independently associated with waist circumference (β = -0.36, p = 0.002). The obese and control groups were similar in endoglin (p = 0.67) and obestatin levels (p = 0.70). The endoglin level was inversely correlated with the cholesterol and LDL levels (r = -0.23, p = 0.032; rho = -0.25, p = 0.019).


CONCLUSIONS
The cIMT and brachial artery FMD response in obese children are significantly different compared to healthy controls. Circulating endoglin and obestatin levels are not predictive markers for subclinical atherosclerosis in obese children aged 10-18 years old.
Nurullah
N
Çelik
Peyami
P
Cinaz
Aysun
A
Bideci
Betül
B
Derinkuyu
Hamdi Cihan
HC
Emeksiz
Esra
E
Döğer
Çağrı
Ç
Damar
Özge
Ö
Yüce
Orhun
O
Çamurdan
D000293:Adolescent; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D000071063:Endoglin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D055105:Waist Circumference
D015415:Biomarkers; D000071063:Endoglin; D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin