Abstract:
Objectives To investigate serum adiponectin and resistin
levels in childhood obesity and their relationship with
cardiac changes and insulin resistance.
Methods Seventy-one obese and 24 overweight children
and 40 healthy children and adolescents were selected for
the study. Height and weight measurements, BMI values
and BMI SD score values were obtained for each individual.
After blood pressure measurement, left ventricular wall
thickness, left ventricular mass, stroke volume, cardiac
output, systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle
were measured using an M-mode, two dimensional colorcoded
echocardiography device. Blood samples of the
individuals were obtained for fasting blood sugar, total
blood cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, highdensity
lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin, C-peptide,
adiponectin and resistin values.
Results Cholesterol and LDL values, homeostasis model
assessment of insulin resistance, fasting insulin and fasting
C-peptide values of the obese and overweight groups were
higher (P< 0.01). Adiponectin level (P< 0.001) and resistin
level (P< 0.05) of the obese and overweight groups were
lower than those of the control group (P< 0.05).
Echocardiographic evaluation showed diastolic dysfunction
in addition to increased left ventricular wall thickness and
left ventricle mass values in the obese and overweight
children. We also detected a significant positive correlation
among left ventricular mass, interventricular septum
systolic diameter and resistin in obese children. Among the
factors, resistin level was determined as an independent
predictor of left ventricular mass in obese children.
Conclusion In this study, even in asymptomatic obese and
overweight children, cardiac structural and functional
changes, such as increased left ventricular mass and
diastolic dysfunction, were demonstrated. Although
decreased adiponectin level was not related to cardiac
changes, it was shown that decreased serum resistin levels
in the obese cases lead to left ventricle hypertrophy.
