title: Metabolic syndrome and atherogenic indices in school children: A worrying panorama in Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is defined as the combination of a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors. The use of cardiovascular indices such as the ratios TC/HDL-c, LDL-c/HDL-c and TG/HDL-c may help in the assessment of cardiovascular risk. Investigation of cardio-metabolic risks in the pre-adolescent stage is essential to characterize possible patterns for MS in the earliest stages of the life avoiding further irreversible consequences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This work aimed to investigate the presence of MS and cardiovascular indices in a group of children aged 6-10 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 150 children from a city in Brazil. Anthropometric (Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference) and biochemical parameters (glycaemia, total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c, and triglycerides) were evaluated in order to identify the presence of MS. Atherogenic Indices were also calculated (TC/HDL-c, LDL-c/HDL-c and TG/HDL-c).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that there are high percentages of children with altered values for biochemical and anthropometric parameters and in the atherogenic indices. MS was identified in 17.8% of the children. The main parameters related to alterations in the atherogenic indices were waist circumference, body mass index and the presence of MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of MS and alterations in the atherogenic indices in schoolchildren is a worrying panorama. We suggest the performance of more studies focusing on identification, intervention and prevention programs in order to reduce the risk factors of this syndrome in childhood and to reduce future cardiovascular deaths.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Av. Higino Muzzi Filho 1001, Marília 15525-902, SP, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Technology of Marília (FATEC), Av. Castro Alves, 62, Marília 17506-000, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: smbarbalho@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sandra Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Barbalho
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Technology of Marília (FATEC), Av. Castro Alves, 62, Marília 17506-000, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oshiiwa
authors.affiliation: Av Ten. Florêncio Pupo Neto, Lins 16400-68017506-000, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lia Carolina
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Sato Fontana
authors.affiliation: Av Ten. Florêncio Pupo Neto, Lins 16400-68017506-000, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eder Francisco
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Ribeiro Finalli
authors.affiliation: Av Ten. Florêncio Pupo Neto, Lins 16400-68017506-000, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcio Emílio
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Paiva Filho
authors.affiliation: Av Ten. Florêncio Pupo Neto, Lins 16400-68017506-000, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Machado Spada
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D055105:Waist Circumference
keywords: Atherogenic indices; Children; Lipids; Metabolic syndrome; Waist circumference