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Cystatin C, cardiometabolic risk, and body composition in severely obese children

Pilar Codoñer-Franch1, Esther Ballester-Asensio, Lorena Martínez-Pons

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Peset University Hospital, Avenida Gaspar Aguilar n° 90, 46017, Valencia, Spain. pilar.codoner@uv.es

Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany)
|November 20, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Cystatin C (CysC) levels in severely obese children correlate with multiple cardiometabolic risk factors and skeletal muscle mass. These associations persist independently of kidney function, highlighting CysC

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Metabolic Syndrome Research

Background:

  • Severely obese children face increased cardiometabolic risk.
  • Cystatin C (CysC) is a biomarker influenced by muscle mass and kidney function.
  • Understanding CysC's role in pediatric obesity is crucial for risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between cystatin C (CysC), cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs), and body composition in severely obese children.
  • To determine if CysC associations with CMRFs are independent of renal function.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluated 117 children (7-14 years), including 79 severely obese and 38 normal-weight.
  • Measured CysC, CMRFs (glucose, insulin, lipids, homocysteine, uric acid, ALT, hs-CRP), and blood pressure.
  • Assessed body composition via segmental bioelectrical impedance and estimated renal function (eGFR).

Main Results:

  • Severely obese children in the highest CysC tertile exhibited a cluster of CMRFs.
  • CysC correlated with insulin resistance, alanine aminotransferase, uric acid, and homocysteine, independent of age, gender, and eGFR.
  • CysC levels were associated with fat-free mass and skeletal muscle mass.

Conclusions:

  • Cystatin C is linked to cardiometabolic risk factors in severely obese children.
  • These associations are independent of renal function and influenced by skeletal muscle mass.
  • CysC may serve as a valuable biomarker for cardiometabolic risk in pediatric obesity.

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