Body fat and circulating leukocytes in children

F Zaldivar,R G Mcmurray,P Galassetti,D M Cooper,D Nemet,P J Mills

doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803227

Abstract

To determine the effects of obesity on baseline levels of circulating granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocyte subtypes in otherwise healthy children. Two group comparison of leukocytes in normal weight control and overweight children. In total, 38 boys and girls, ages 6-18 years, divided in two groups: normal weight, (NW, BMI<85th %tile, n=15) and overweight (OW, body mass index (BMI)>85th %tile, n=23). BMI obtained from direct measures of height and body mass. Body fat was assessed by DEXA. Complete blood counts (CBC) were obtained by standard clinical hematology methods and surface antigen staining by flow cytometry. The OW group compared to the NW group had increased total leukocytes counts (P=0.011), neutrophils (P=0.006), monocytes (P=0.008), total T (CD3) lymphocytes (P=0.022), and Helper T (CD4(+)) cells (P=0.003). Significant correlations were evident between leukocytes, and BMI percentile, BMI, or percent body fat. Neither lean body mass nor VO(2peak) per unit lean body mass were significantly related to any of the leukocytes. Percent body fat and BMI percentile were positively correlated (P<0.05) to total T cells (CD3) and/or helper T cells (CD4(+)). A group of 23 overweight children displayed elevated counts in most types of circulating immune cells, suggesting the presence of low-grade systemic inflammation, a known pathogenetic mechanism underlying most long-term complications of obesity. Our data provide an additional rationale for the importance of avoiding or correcting pediatric obesity.

Highlights

In the last decade, obesity has become one of the most significant public health crises in the United States for both adults and children.[1]
The majority of the elevation of leukocytes appears to be related to monocytes[4]; neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes may be elevated.[5]
Our data concurs with previous observations by Visser et al.[16] and Bao et al.,[22] who noted that overweight children have elevated total circulating leukocyte counts

Summary

Introduction

Obesity has become one of the most significant public health crises in the United States for both adults and children.[1] Obesity, during adulthood, has been associated with coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and joint disease, just to name a few. Obesity is associated with numerous medical complications in adults, the implications of obesity in the growing child are not clearly defined. Research has shown that obese adults, (BMIX30 kg/m2), have elevated total leukocytes.[2,3] The majority of the elevation of leukocytes appears to be related to monocytes[4]; neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes may be elevated.[5] In addition, several groups have observed that obese adults have elevated levels of many proinflammatory

Methods

Results

Conclusion