Pro-inflammatory triggers in childhood obesity: correlation between leptin, adiponectin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in a group of obese Portuguese children

• Autor(a) principal: Pires, António
• Data de Publicação: 2014
• Outros Autores: Martins, Paula, Pereira, Ana Margarida, Marinho, Joana, Vaz Silva, Patrícia, Marques, Margarida, Castela, Eduardo, Sena, Cristina M., Seiça, Raquel
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10316/109674; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.repc.2014.04.004
• topic: Pediatric; Obesity; High-sensitivity C-reactive protein; Adiponectin; Leptin; Pediatria; Obesidade; Proteína-C-reativaultrassensível; Adiponectina; Leptin; Adiponectin; Adolescent; C-Reactive Protein; Child; Female; Humans; Leptin; Male; Pediatric Obesity; Portugal

Introduction: 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. Objectives: 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 endothe-lial dysfunction, they may be used in clinical practice for risk stratification, as well as in theassessment of weight control programs.