Blood Lipid Levels and Injury to DNA in Obese Children

Abstract

Obesity condition implies a significant health risk, and its association to other factors as dislipidemia and metabolic syndrome is the basis of several chronic non-communicable diseases. All of these elements have been lately associated to the impairment of DNA structure, which represents a critical menace to cellular function. The study of damage to DNA in obese children should be the basis for the administration of physical activity in early stages of life, due to its role as a major antioxidant. PURPOSE: To determine DNA damage and blood lipid levels in sedentary obese children. METHODS: Nine sedentary obese boys, 9.5 ± 1.3 years of age, 53.4 ± 8.4 kg of body weight, 140.3 ± 5.9 cm of height and 27.8 ± 3.4 kg/m2 of body mass index (BMI) were included. Not clinical evidence of other disease was detected. Oxidative damage to DNA was determined by the number of apurinic-apyrimidinic sites (APS) × 105. Plasma lipid levels by colorimetric-enzymatic procedure were measured after a 12 hour fast. Lipids were correlated to APS and were also compared with other reported values in some studies with obese children. RESULTS: Children's BMI was higher than 97 percentile of CDC charts and classified as severe obesity according to National Institute of Health in Mexico (INSP, 2006). The number of detected APS was 4.6 ± 4.4 × 105. Blood lipid levels were as follows: 189.3 ± 29.6 mg·dl-1 of total cholesterol (TC), 82.4 ± 35.7 mg·dl-1 of triglycerides (TG), 117.3 ± 23 mg·dl-1 of LDL-cholesterol (LDL) and 50.4 ± 11.5 mg·dl-1 of HDL-cholesterol (HDL). Values of TC, TG, LDL and HDL were adjusted by Z score according to those described in studies with obese children in Great Britain, Mexico and USA. TC, TG, and LDL were higher, while HDL was lower than those reported for children in the same range of age. No correlation between APS and lipids was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative damage in DNA, evidenced by the number of APS, and high blood lipid levels found in sedentary obese children may suppose an increased possibility for early development of chronic non-communicable diseases. More studies must be done to understand any association between these factors and should be the basis to perform physical activity programs which can change such risk, due to its antioxidant action.