Abnormality of adipokines and endothelial dysfunction in Mexican obese adolescents with insulin resistance

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship among insulin resistance (IR), endothelial dysfunction, and alteration of adipokines in Mexican obese adolescents and their association with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Two hundred and twenty-seven adolescents were classified according to the body mass index (BMI) (control: N=104; obese: N=123) and homeostasis model of the assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) (obese with IR: N=65). The circulating concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and IR were determined by standard methods.

The obese adolescents with IR presented increased presence of MetS and higher circulating concentrations in sICAM-1 in comparison with the obese subjects without IR. The lowest concentrations of adiponectin were observed in the obese with IR. In multivariate linear regression models, sICAM-1 along with triglycerides, total cholesterol, and waist circumference was strongly associated with HOMA-IR (R²=0.457, P=0.008). Similarly, after adjustment for age, BMI-SDS, lipids, and adipokines, HOMA-IR remained associated with sICAM-1 (R²=0.372, P=0.008). BMI-SDS was mildly associated with leptin (R²=0.176, P=0.002) and the waist circumference was mild and independent determinant of adiponectin (R²=0.136, P=0.007).

Our findings demonstrated that the obese adolescents, particularly the obese subjects with IR exhibited increased presence of MetS, abnormality of adipokines, and endothelial dysfunction. The significant interaction between IR and endothelial dysfunction may suggest a novel therapeutic approach to prevent or delay systemic IR and the genesis of cardiovascular diseases in obese patients.