Associations of adiposity and adipokine concentrations with anti- and oxidative markers in Brazilian children

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the association of body fat, anti- and inflammatory adipokines with anti- and oxidative markers. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study with 378 schoolchildren ages 8 to 9 y in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We obtained information on sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics via questionnaires, measured height and weight, and estimated body fat by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Blood sample was collected to analyze the adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, chemerin, and retinol-binding protein 4) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on the sandwich principle; and anti- and oxidant markers (plasma ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP], superoxide dismutase [SOD], and malondialdehyde [MDA]) by enzymatic methods. Concentrations of anti- and oxidant markers were compared by percent body fat quartiles and adipokine concentrations terciles using of linear regression adjusted for potential confounders. ResultsTotal and central body fat were positively associated with FRAP. Every 1 standard deviation (SD) of total fat was associated with 4.8 higher FRAP (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.7–7). Additionally, every 1 SD of truncal, android, and gynoid fat were associated with, respectively, 5, 4.6, and 4.6 higher FRAP (95% CI, 2.9–7.1; 2.6–6.7; and 2.4–6.8, respectively). However, adiponectin was inversely associated with FRAP; every adiponectin SD was related to –2.2 lower FRAP (95% CI, –3.9 to –0.5). Chemerin was positively associated with SOD [5.4 (95% CI, 1.9–8.8) SOD units per chemerin SD]. ConclusionsThe body fat measures and adiposity-related inflammation (chemerin) were positively associated with antioxidative markers in children, whereas the adiponectin (anti-inflammatory marker) was inversely associated with FRAP (antioxidative marker).