Leptin and IL-6 as risk factors for metabolic cardiovascular syndrome in obese prepubertal children

Abstract

Background: Potential risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) tend to cluster in childhood and are strongly associated with obesity. The prevalence of obesity in children has increased dramatically over the last 20 years, leading to higher health risk associated with complications such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Leptin is a hormone produced by the adipocytes to regulate food intake, its circulating levels directly correlate with the amount of body fat and body mass index (BMI). Previous researchers had provided evidence suggesting that ob gene expression is up regulated by some inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6. Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between serum leptin, and interluikin-6 in order to detect the presence of any impairment of these parameters as risk factors for metabolic cardiovascular syndrome in obese prepubertal children, in an attempt to overcome the increased health risk associated with obesity in children. Subjects and methods: Eighty prepubertal children age range between (5-11) years old were enrolled in this study. Divided according to their weight into two groups: Obese group 50 subjects Lean group 30 aged matched subjects. Circulating serum leptin and IL-6 were measured by ELISA technique. Results: both parameters studied showed a significantly higher values in obese children than in leans. No significant correlations were found to exist between these parameters in both groups. However correlations were much more prominent in obese group compared to lean groups. Conclusion: Obese children exhibited a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome. The children with greater insulin resistance exhibited more risk factors. In the light of these findings intervention measures are necessary in order to prevent excessive weight gain during childhood.