Profile of Leptin in Obese Children with and without Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions-increased blood pressure, a
high blood sugar level, excess body fat and abnormal cholesterol levels that together
confers an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Leptin
is involved in the long-term regulation of body weight and dietary intake and related to
metabolic syndrome.
Objective: To investigate the profile of leptin levels in control and obese children (with
and without metabolic syndrome).
Methods: Fifty obese children participated in this study (with and without metabolic
syndrome); their age range was (5-15) years, and 38 non obese children; their age range
was (7-14) years as control group. This study was done in the period from July 2013 until
the end of April 2014. The patients attended to the National Diabetic Center, Al-
Mustansiriya University. Waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood
pressure, body mass index, percent body fat, fasting blood glucose, serum leptin,
triacylglycerol, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured in all studied
groups.
Results: There was a significant increase in serum leptin, leptin/ body mass index ratio,
body mass index, percent body fat, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic
blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and serum triacylglycerol in obese children as
compared to the control, while there was a significant decrease in serum level of high
density lipoprotein cholesterol in obese children when compared with the control,
(P=0.001). There was a significant increase in serum leptin in obese children with
metabolic syndrome as compared to those without metabolic syndrome, (P=0.0001), also
means of body mass index, percent body fat, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood
glucose, and serum triacylglycerol were significantly increased in obese children with
metabolic syndrome as compared to those without metabolic syndrome, while there was a
significant decrease in serum level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol in obese children
with metabolic syndrome when compared to those without metabolic syndrome, (P<0.05).
A significant positive correlation was found between serum leptin versus age, systolic
blood pressure, waist circumference, body mass index, fasting blood glucose,
triacylglycerol, and leptin/body mass index ratio in obese children with metabolic
syndrome, while a significant negative correlation was detected between serum leptin and
high density lipoprotein cholesterol in obese children with metabolic syndrome, (P<0.001).
There was a significant positive correlation between serum leptin versus waist
circumference, body mass index, and leptin/body mass index ratio in obese children
without metabolic syndrome.
Conclusions: The present results are consistent with the hypothesis that leptin was
strongly associated with obesity and high levels of leptin have been associated with
metabolic syndrome.