Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Pulse-Wave Velocity, Flow-Mediated Dilation, and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness to Assess Cardiovascular Risk in Population with Metabolic Syndrome
06:04

Pulse-Wave Velocity, Flow-Mediated Dilation, and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness to Assess Cardiovascular Risk in Population with Metabolic Syndrome

Published on: September 27, 2024

Association between white blood cell count and components of metabolic syndrome

Chung-Ze Wu1, Jiunn D Lin, Jer-Chuan Li

  • 1Department of Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
|April 18, 2009
PubMed

Insights

White blood cell count (WBCC) is linked to metabolic syndrome components in children. Higher WBCC correlated with lower HDL-C and higher BMI in boys, suggesting early cardiovascular risks.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Metabolic Syndrome Research

Background:

  • Metabolic syndrome (MetS) components are associated with inflammatory markers like white blood cell count (WBCC).
  • WBCC is a readily accessible clinical test.
  • Investigating the link between WBCC and MetS in children is crucial for early risk identification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between white blood cell count (WBCC) and components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children.
  • To determine if these associations differ between genders.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 288 Taiwanese children under 10 with normal WBCC.
  • Children were grouped into quartiles based on WBCC.
  • Multivariate linear regression analyzed WBCC correlations with MetS components, adjusting for age and BMI.

Main Results:

  • In boys, higher WBCC (WBCC4) was associated with significantly lower high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C).
  • Multivariate analysis revealed negative correlation between WBCC and HDL-C, and positive correlation with body mass index (BMI) in boys.
  • Similar trends were observed in girls, with a borderline positive correlation between triglyceride (TG) and WBCC.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood WBCC shows significant associations with BMI and HDL-C in boys, and trends in girls.
  • These findings indicate potential for cardiovascular risk development in childhood.
  • Early detection and intervention for these metabolic abnormalities can help prevent future cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): An Overview with Scientific InsightsCoronary Artery Disease (CAD), often referred to as C-A-D, is a prevalent blood vessel disorder classified under the broader category of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a pathological process characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques are composed of cholesterol, fatty substances, inflammatory cells, calcium, and fibrin, reducing blood flow to...
Structure and Function of Leukocytes01:21

Structure and Function of Leukocytes

An adult in good health typically has between 4,500 and 11,000 leukocytes, or white blood cells, per microliter of blood, which constitutes about 1% of the total blood volume. Unlike red blood cells, white blood cells contain a nucleus and other cellular organelles but do not have hemoglobin. Most white blood cells reside in connective tissues, particularly in lymphatic organs such as the lymph nodes, with only a small fraction present in circulating blood.
White blood cells protect the body...
Disorders of Leukocytes01:27

Disorders of Leukocytes

Leukocyte disorders can lead to either leukopenia, characterized by an abnormally low leukocyte count, or leukocytosis, marked by a very high leukocyte number.
Leukopenia may result from bone marrow disorders, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. For example, conditions such as multiple myeloma and aplastic anemia can impair the bone marrow's ability to produce adequate leukocytes. Similarly, autoimmune diseases like lupus and viral infections such as HIV can prompt the immune system...
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction01:26

Type II Diabetes I: Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, in which target tissues such as the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue respond poorly to insulin. It is also associated with inadequate compensatory insulin secretion, where pancreatic β-cells fail to produce sufficient insulin. Together, these abnormalities lead to persistent hyperglycemia.EtiologyT2DM develops through a complex interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental or...
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism01:19

Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism

Carbohydrate metabolism is a fundamental biochemical process that ensures a constant supply of energy to living cells. The most important carbohydrate is glucose, which can be broken down via glycolysis to enter into the Krebs cycle and eventually lead to the production of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
Glucose transport into cells is facilitated by a family of transport proteins called GLUT (Glucose Transporters). GLUT4 is the primary glucose transporter for insulin-stimulated glucose...