Serum Amyloid P and Endocrine Markers in a Cohort of Obese Children
Mehwish Anwer1, Muhammad J Iqbal1
1Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
Insights
Obese children show higher levels of inflammatory marker serum amyloid P (SAP) and hormones leptin and insulin. These elevated markers suggest a predisposition to low-grade inflammation and metabolic syndrome in childhood obesity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Metabolic Disorders
- Inflammatory Markers
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing concern linked to serious health issues.
- Metabolic and inflammatory comorbidities contribute to morbidity and mortality in obese children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate alterations in acute inflammatory markers (serum amyloid P, cortisol) and endocrine markers (leptin, insulin) in obese children.
- To compare these marker levels between obese and non-obese children.
Main Methods:
- Serum concentrations of leptin, insulin, cortisol, and serum amyloid P were measured in obese (n=17) and non-obese (n=20) children.
- Assays used included ELISA and Bio-Plex Bead-based assay.
- Statistical comparison was performed using a 2-tailed student's t-test.
Main Results:
- Obese children had significantly higher mean serum concentrations of leptin, insulin, and serum amyloid P compared to controls.
- No significant difference in mean serum cortisol levels was observed, though values were higher in obese subjects.
- Leptin correlated with insulin and cortisol in obese children, and leptin, insulin, and SAP correlated with BMI and body weight.
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum amyloid P, leptin, and insulin levels in obese children indicate a heightened risk for low-grade inflammation.
- These findings suggest a predisposition to developing metabolic syndrome in morbidly obese children.
- Early identification and intervention for these markers may be crucial in managing childhood obesity.
Objectives:
Obesity in children can lead to morbidity and mortality due to metabolic and inflammatory comorbidities.
Aims:
The objective of the study was to investigate the alterations in acute inflammatory markers, serum amyloid P (SAP) and cortisol, and endocrine markers, leptin and insulin, in obese children.
Materials And Methods:
Serum leptin, insulin, cortisol, and amyloid P concentrations were measured in obese (BMI percentile >85, n = 17) and nonobese (BMI percentile < 75, n = 20) children using ELISA and Bio-Plex Bead-based assay.
Statistical Analysis Used:
Serum concentrations of analytes were compared between normal and obese groups using 2-tailed student's t-test.
Results:
Mean leptin, insulin, and SAP serum concentrations were significantly higher in obese children as compared to the controls (97.19 vs. 4.06, P < 0.05; 21.31 vs 3.56, P < 0.05; 46.77 vs. 17.89, P < 0.05; respectively). No difference was found in mean serum cortisol levels of the two groups. However, cortisol values were higher in obese subjects compared to the control group (7.89 vs 6.30, P = 0.15). Leptin corelated with insulin (r = 0.42, P = 0.043) and cortisol (r = 0.48, P = 0.025) levels in the obese group. Furthermore, leptin, insulin, and SAP levels were corelated with BMI (r = 0.80, P < 0.000; r = 0.67, P = 0.015, respectively) and body weight (r = 0.52, P = 0.01; r = 0.52, P = 0.002; r = 0.54, P = 0.01, respectively) in the obese group but did not demonstrate a significant relationship in the nonobese group.
Conclusion:
Elevated SAP levels and increase in leptin and insulin indicated a preeminent disposition of morbidly obese children to the development of low-grade inflammation and metabolic syndrome.
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