Signs of Inflammation in Obese Children
Obese children show early signs of inflammation, according to a recent report from a group of Italian investigators. In adults, obesity is often linked to inflammatory markers such as vascular endothelial cell and platelet activation. Researchers wanted to know whether this is also seen in children.
The group studied 40 obese children with an average age of 10 years and matched them to 40 nonobese children for comparison. Several markers of inflammation were measured by blood tests, including levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin. Also measured were two indicators of platelet activation—high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and 8-iso-prostaglandin (PG)F2α.
Analysis showed that circulating levels of all markers were higher in obese children than in nonobese kids. However, no correlation was seen between levels of inflammatory factors and degree of overweight.
It's possible, researchers conclude, that childhood obesity may promote early vascular abnormalities that lead to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality later in life.
