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Association of changes in oxidative and proinflammatory states with changes in vascular function after a lifestyle
Roya Kelishadi1, Mohammad Hashemi, Noushin Mohammadifard
1Preventive Pediatric Cardiology Department, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. kroya@aap.net
Insights
Diet and exercise improved vascular function in obese children by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress markers, partially reversing early atherosclerotic changes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Metabolic Syndrome
Background:
- Childhood obesity is linked to increased oxidative and proinflammatory states, impacting vascular function.
- The effects of lifestyle interventions on these markers in obese children remain under-explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between changes in oxidative stress, inflammation, and vascular function in obese children undergoing diet and exercise intervention.
Main Methods:
- A 6-week intervention study involving 35 obese children (12-18 years).
- Evaluated anthropometric indices, insulin resistance, C-reactive protein (CRP), oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), oxidative stress markers, carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT), and flow-mediated dilation (FMD).
Main Results:
- Significant decreases in BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentage observed.
- Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) improved, but carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) changes were not statistically significant.
- Changes in BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, ox-LDL, CRP, and insulin resistance markers correlated inversely with FMD improvements.
Conclusions:
- Childhood obesity-associated inflammation and abdominal fat deposition contribute to early proatherosclerotic processes and vascular dysfunction.
- Short-term diet and exercise interventions can partially reverse these vascular changes, even without achieving ideal body weight.
Background:
The association of changes in oxidative and proinflammatory states with vascular function after diet and exercise intervention among obese children has not been previously explored.
Methods:
In this 6-week diet and exercise intervention study in 35 obese children, age 12 to 18 years, we evaluated the relationship between changes in anthropometric indices, measures of insulin resistance, C-reactive protein (CRP), oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), and oxidative stress markers with changes in carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) and flow mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery.
Results:
At the end of the study, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and percentage body fat were decreased (P <0.05), but participants remained overweight (BMI > or = 95th percentile). Although FMD improved (P <0.05), the improvement in C-IMT did not reach statistical significance. The changes in BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, ox-LDL, malondialdehyde (MDA), CRP, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) had an inverse correlation with the changes in mean FMD after adjustment for age and sex, with the highest correlations documented for ox-LDL, CRP, and WC. The age- and sex-adjusted changes in ox-LDL, waist circumference, CRP, MDA, and body fat mass had the highest correlations with changes in C-IMT.
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that a common inflammatory stress condition associated with childhood obesity, notably with abdominal fat deposition, may play a role in the development of the earliest stages of proatherosclerotic inflammatory processes and subsequent vascular dysfunction. These changes might be partially reversible by short-term diet and exercise intervention, even if patients do not reach ideal body weight.
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