Hyperhomocysteinemia and Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Children

Abstract

Background and Aims: Hyperhomocysteinemia is one of the factors of risk implied in the development of cardiovascular Heart diseases (CHD). Obesity is associated with metabolic anomalies and insulin resistance constituting metabolic syndrome, the aggregate of factors risk of diabetes type 2 and cardiovascular complications. Objectives: The purpose of this work is to determine the levels of serum homocystein in obese children and adolescents and to establish the correlations between homocysteinemia and the components of metabolic syndrome. Patients and methods: The study was carried out on 67 children including 35 obese children (23 Boys, 12 Girls) old of 1 year 8 months at 16 years 4 months (average ± DS: 10.35 ± 3.5 years), with IMC means: 26.5 ± 3.8 kg/m2 and 32 no obese children (12 Boys, 20 Girls) who have an average age of 10 ± 4.6 years, them IMC means is: 16.47 ± 3.28 kg/m2 . The serum lipids are assessed by the enzymatic method, the levels of serum homocystein is determined by HPLC, the insulinemia is determined by technique ELISA. Index of insulin resistance HOMA and the cell ß function (Fc.ß) were calculated according to a formula using the glycemia and the insulinemia. Results: The homocysteinemia high in the obese children is significantly compared with that found in no obese children of the same age (10.6 ± 2.9 vs 7.2 ± 1.3 ?mol/l, p12 ?mol/l. In our present study, we noticed significantly higher, serum levels average of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides (P<0,001) in obese children compared to found in no obese or healthy children. There is a significant increase in the rate of uric acid, insulinemia index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (P<0,001) and Fc.ß (P<0,001), reflection of the hepatic insulin resistance. The serum homocystein levels correlate with body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure and in particular with uric acid levels. Conclusion: Hyperhomocysteinemia can be associated with metabolic syndrome and varies independently of the components of metabolic syndrome and other factors of risk early stage of the arterial attack. Thus, hyperhomocysteinemia is a predictive marker the development cardiovascular heart disease in obese youths.