ABSTRACT
An elevated plasma total homocysteine [tHcy] level has recently been established as an independent risk factor for thrombosis and vascular disease. However, the relationship between hyperhomocysteinemia and cardiovascular disease and obesity remains controversial. The aim of the study was to investigate a possible relationship between plasma tHcy levels and measures of childhood obesity. Forty children and adolescents with exogenous obesity and 20 non-obese subjects in an age-and sex-matched control group were investigated. Fasting samples were collected for plasma tHcy, serum insulin, leptin, vitamin B12, folate, creatinine and lipid parameters. Anthropometric characteristics and body compositions were assessed in both groups. The obese patients had significantly higher tHcy levels than the non-obese controls [14.3 +/- 11.8 micro mol/L vs 8.7 +/- 5.9 micro mol/L; P=0.017]. In both groups, plasma tHcy was positively related to serum leptin, but serum apolipoprotein B [apo B] levels were positively related to plasma tHcy levels only in obese patients. Our study demonstrates for the first time that leptin and apo B are main correlates of tHcy in obese children and adolescents and suggests that hyperleptinemia and increased apo B may contribute to impairment of tHcy metabolism in childhood obesity