Adiponectin, leptin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein values in obese children - important markers for metabolic syndrome?

Background Obesity is a chronic inflammatory disorder in which leptin, adiponectin and C-reactive protein (CRP) play an important role. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between markers of adiposity such as leptin, adiponectin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in obese children, and to determine whether these adipokines are significant markers in defining metabolic syndrome (MetS) in pediatric population. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of 1 year, between July 2013 and June 2014, on 122 cases of obesity in children diagnosed at the Louis Ţurcanu Emergency Hospital for Children Timişoara, in the departments of Diabetes and Nutritional Diseases, Endocrinology and Cardiology. The patients were divided into two groups, according to the presence of MetS. Results MetS was present in 27% of obese children. The groups were homogenous with respect to age, sex and body mass index (BMI). Adiponectin, leptin and hs-CRP were significantly modified in the group with MetS (p=0.04, p=0.04, p=0.01, respectively). Conclusions hs-CRP, leptin and adiponectin can be used as predictors of cardiovascular risk in pediatric population.