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Higher levels of C-reactive protein associated with higher adiposity in mexican schoolchildren

Fátima López-Alcaraz1, Mario Del Toro-Equihua2, Mariana Orta-Duarte2

  • 1Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Colima. Colima. México.. calicesr26@hotmail.com.

Nutricion Hospitalaria
|February 25, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity is linked to higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, indicating subclinical inflammation. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha showed no significant association with adiposity in schoolchildren. This highlights CRP as a key inflammatory biomarker in pediatric obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Inflammation Research
  • Public Health Nutrition

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing concern, increasing the risk of chronic-degenerative diseases.
  • Previous studies on pediatric inflammatory biomarkers and adiposity have yielded inconsistent findings.
  • Identifying reliable indicators of health risks in obese children is crucial for effective prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels and adiposity in schoolchildren.
  • To assess the utility of bioimpedance analysis (BIA) in measuring adiposity in this context.
  • To explore potential inflammatory markers associated with pediatric obesity.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 74 randomly selected schoolchildren in Colima, Mexico.
  • Adiposity was measured using bioimpedance analysis and anthropometric methods.
  • Serum CRP and TNF-α levels were quantified via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  • Statistical analysis included non-parametric (Mann Whitney, Kruskal Wallis) and parametric (Pearson's correlation) tests.

Main Results:

  • Children with obesity exhibited significantly higher serum CRP levels compared to normal-weight children (p < 0.001).
  • No significant difference in serum TNF-α levels was observed between obese and normal-weight children.
  • A modest positive correlation was found between serum CRP levels and various measures of adiposity, including BIA-derived fat mass (r = 0.453, p < 0.001).
  • No correlation was identified between adiposity and serum TNF-α levels.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated serum CRP levels in schoolchildren are associated with increased fat mass, suggesting subclinical inflammation.
  • Bioimpedance analysis is a viable method for assessing adiposity in pediatric populations.
  • CRP may serve as a valuable inflammatory biomarker for identifying health risks associated with childhood obesity, while TNF-α does not appear to be a significant indicator in this age group.
Abstract

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