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Assessment of endothelial dysfunction in childhood obesity and clinical use
Luc Bruyndonckx1, Vicky Y Hoymans, Amaryllis H Van Craenenbroeck
1Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650 Edegem, Belgium. luc.bruyndonckx@ua.ac.be
Insights
Childhood obesity is a growing global health crisis, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease through endothelial dysfunction. This review examines markers and mechanisms of endothelial damage and repair in pediatric obesity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Obesity is a global epidemic, particularly in children, linked to noncommunicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular complications.
- Childhood obesity is a precursor to future cardiovascular disease, initiating with endothelial dysfunction, a reversible stage of atherosclerosis.
- Rising childhood obesity rates pose a significant threat to global healthcare management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically review in vivo and in vitro markers for assessing endothelial integrity in the context of childhood obesity.
- To provide an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms underlying endothelial damage and repair imbalances.
- To examine the impact of lifestyle interventions and pharmacotherapy on endothelial dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Review of advanced research techniques for measuring endothelial function.
- Identification and discussion of novel biomarkers, including endothelial progenitor cells.
- Analysis of existing literature on mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction in pediatric obesity.
Main Results:
- Childhood obesity is strongly associated with endothelial dysfunction, a key early step in atherosclerosis development.
- Advanced research has refined methods for evaluating endothelial function and identified new biomarkers.
- Understanding the mechanisms of endothelial damage is crucial for intervention.
Conclusions:
- Endothelial dysfunction in childhood obesity is a critical, yet potentially reversible, factor in future cardiovascular risk.
- Further research into mechanisms and effective interventions is warranted.
- Lifestyle and pharmacological approaches may mitigate endothelial dysfunction in pediatric obesity.
Abstract:
The association of obesity with noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular complications and diabetes, is considered a major threat to the management of health care worldwide. Epidemiological findings show that childhood obesity is rapidly rising in Western society, as well as in developing countries. This pandemic is not without consequences and can affect the risk of future cardiovascular disease in these children. Childhood obesity is associated with endothelial dysfunction, the first yet still reversible step towards atherosclerosis. Advanced research techniques have added further insight on how childhood obesity and associated comorbidities lead to endothelial dysfunction. Techniques used to measure endothelial function were further brought to perfection, and novel biomarkers, including endothelial progenitor cells, were discovered. The aim of this paper is to provide a critical overview on both in vivo as well as in vitro markers for endothelial integrity. Additionally, an in-depth description of the mechanisms that disrupt the delicate balance between endothelial damage and repair will be given. Finally, the effects of lifestyle interventions and pharmacotherapy on endothelial dysfunction will be reviewed.
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