Background: Plasma adipocytokines are associated with metabolic profile and cardiovascular risk in obese children.
Objective: To investigate the association of plasma leptin and adiponectin concentrations with cardiometabolic risk profile and systemic inflammation in non-obese children.
Subjects: We studied 170 healthy, non-obese children (86 males, mean age 10±2 years).
Methods: Children's current body mass index (BMI), plasma leptin and adiponectin concentrations, lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose and high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured.
Results: After adjustment for age, gender and BMI, plasma leptin concentrations were positively associated with hsCRP (t=2.72, p=0.009) and fasting plasma glucose (t=4.27, p<0.0001); plasma adiponectin concentrations were negatively associated with hsCRP (t=-3.31, p=0.0016); and positively with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (t=2.32, p=0.02). Children in the highest quartile of leptin/adiponectin (L/A) ratio demonstrated significantly higher BMI, systolic blood pressure, hsCRP, triglycerides and fasting glucose and the lowest high density lipoprotein (HDL) compared to lower L/A ratio quartiles.
Conclusions: Alterations in plasma leptin and adiponectin may help to reclassify non-obese children, detecting those with more unfavorable risk profiles independent of BMI status.