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Updated: Aug 6, 2025
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Metabolic, inflammatory and adipokine differences on overweight/obese children with and without metabolic syndrome: A
Idalia Cura-Esquivel1, Marlene Marisol Perales-Quintana2, Liliana Torres-González3
1Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario "Dr. José E. González", Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.
Insights
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) in obese children is linked to inflammation. Triglyceride to HDL cholesterol ratio (TGL/HDL-C) can help identify MetS in overweight or obese children using routine tests.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Metabolic Health
- Inflammation Research
Background:
- Obesity is linked to low-grade inflammation and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children and adults.
- Understanding metabolic and inflammatory differences in overweight/obese children with and without MetS is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe metabolic, inflammatory, and adipokine differences in overweight/obese children with and without MetS.
- To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of various ratios for identifying MetS in this population.
Main Methods:
- Observational study including 107 children and adolescents (aged 6-18 years).
- Categorization into normal weight, overweight/obesity without MetS, and overweight/obesity with MetS groups.
- Measurement of anthropometric data, biochemical, adipokine, and inflammatory markers; assessment of metabolic ratios; ROC analysis for diagnostic accuracy.
Main Results:
- Children with overweight/obesity and MetS had higher serum CRP levels.
- Triglyceride to HDL cholesterol (TGL/HDL-C) ratio showed 85.71% sensitivity and 71.43% specificity for MetS.
- Metabolic ratios (TGL/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C) correlated with BMI, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers; increased with additional MetS criteria.
Conclusions:
- Low-grade inflammation is associated with MetS in overweight/obese children.
- The TGL/HDL-C ratio, derived from routine tests, can help identify MetS in children with overweight or obesity.
Background:
Obesity is associated with low-grade inflammation and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in both children and adults. Our aim was to describe metabolic, inflammatory and adipokine differences on overweight/obese children with and without MetS.
Methods:
This was an observational study. A total of 107 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years were included. Among this sample, n = 21 had normal body weight, n = 22 had overweight/obesity without MetS, and n = 64 had overweight/obesity with MetS. Anthropometric data and biochemical, adipokine, and inflammatory markers were measured. Different ratios were then assessed for estimate the probability of MetS. ROC analysis was used to estimate the diagnostic accuracy and optimal cutoff points for ratios.
Results:
Serum CRP levels were higher among children with overweight/obesity with MetS. Adipokines like PAI-1 and leptin were significantly lower in children with normal body weight. The Adipo/Lep ratio was highest in the group with normal body weight. TG/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratios were significantly correlated with BMI, DBP, PCR, and PAI-1. TC/HDL-C ratio was significantly correlated with SBP and resistin. TGL/HDL-C ratio was significantly correlated with waist and hip circumferences, fasting glucose, and MCP-1. The AUC for TG/HDL-C at the optimal cutoff of 2.39 showed 85.71% sensitivity and 71.43% specificity. CT/HDL-C at the optimal cutoff of 3.70 showed 65.08% sensitivity and 81.82% specificity. Levels of both ratios increased significantly as additional MetS criteria were fulfilled.
Conclusion:
Low-grade inflammation is correlated with MetS in children with overweight/obesity. TGL, HDL-C and TGL/HDL-C ratio, obtainable from routine lab tests, allows identification of MetS in children with overweight or obesity.
