Association of cardiac changes with serum adiponectin and resistin levels in obese and overweight children

Objectives To investigate serum adiponectin and resistin levels in childhood obesity and their relationship with cardiac changes and insulin resistance. Methods Seventy-one obese and 24 overweight children and 40 healthy children and adolescents were selected for the study. Height and weight measurements, BMI values and BMI SD score values were obtained for each individual. After blood pressure measurement, left ventricular wall thickness, left ventricular mass, stroke volume, cardiac output, systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle were measured using an M-mode, two dimensional color-coded echocardiography device. Blood samples of the individuals were obtained for fasting blood sugar, total blood cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin, C-peptide, adiponectin and resistin values. Results Cholesterol and LDL values, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, fasting insulin and fasting C-peptide values of the obese and overweight groups were higher (P<0.01). Adiponectin level (P<0.001) and resistin level (P<0.05) of the obese and overweight groups were lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). Echocardiographic evaluation showed diastolic dysfunction in addition to increased left ventricular wall thickness and left ventricle mass values in the obese and overweight children. We also detected a significant positive correlation among left ventricular mass, interventricular septum systolic diameter and resistin in obese children. Among the factors, resistin level was determined as an independent predictor of left ventricular mass in obese children. Conclusion In this study, even in asymptomatic obese and overweight children, cardiac structural and functional changes, such as increased left ventricular mass and diastolic dysfunction, were demonstrated. Although decreased adiponectin level was not related to cardiac changes, it was shown that decreased serum resistin levels in the obese cases lead to left ventricle hypertrophy.