Diagnostic significance of leptin/adiponectin ratio in metabolic syndrome of Chinese children and adolescents

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum leptin (LEP)/adiponectin (APN) (L/A) ratio and metabolic syndrome (MS) in children and adolescents. Methods Total of 3 520 children and adolescents between 6 and 18 years of age were selected from the subjects that had been recruited for 2004 survey conducted by Beijing Children and Adolescent MS (BCAMS) study. Adjusted criteria issued by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2007 were used to establish a diagnosis of MS. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine serum leptin and adiponectin levels. Areas under the receiver operating characteristi c curve (ROC) were also examined to determine the diagnostic value of L/A in the diagnosis of MS in children.Multiple comparisons were made between groups using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the chi-square test. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to determine the correlation between L/A values and various components of MS. Results (1) As the L/A value increased, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), central obesity (CO%) and insulin resistance (IR%) increased progressively, as did, MS detection rate (MS%) increased (χ2 =male: 108.63 ;female: 94.30) (all P< 0.01). (2) L/A ratio area under curve (AUC) of ROC (AUC=0.803) in boys was higher than leption (AUC= 0.771) and adiponectin (AUC=0.703, all P<0.05).L/A ratio AUC of ROC (AUC=0.838) in girls was higher than leptin (AUC=0.817, P=0.0785). L/A ratio and leptin AUC of ROC are higher than adiponectin (AUC= 0.717, all P<0.05). Conclusions L/A is a better marker for the diagnosis of MS in Children better than leptin and adiponectin alone. L/A could be used as an indicator for MS in children and adolescents, and played an auxiliary role in the diagnosis of obesity-related MS in children. Key words: Metabolic syndrome; Leptin; Adiponectin; Leptin/adiponectinratio; Children