ABSTRACT
Obesity is becoming an epidemic health problem. Elevated cytokines and chemokines are prominent features in obesity, which play a main role in the development of other chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 [MCP-1], interlukin-6 [IL-6], and serum paraoxonase-1 [PON1] in childhood obesity. The present study included 40 obese school-aged children [5-15 years] and 40 healthy children as controls. The patients were presented to the outpatient clinic in National Institute of Nutrition. MCP-1, IL-6, PON1, total cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured in all participants. The mean serum levels of MCP-1, IL-6, and total cholesterol were significantly higher in obese participants than in controls [P < 0.0001], whereas the PON1 was significantly lower in obese participants than in controls [P < 0.0001]. MCP-1, IL-6, and serum cholesterol levels showed significant positive correlation with BMI [P < 0.05], whereas PON1 showed a significant negative correlation with BMI [P < 0.05]. Multiple regression analysis showed a strong association between PON1 activity and BMI [P < 0.0001]. Childhood obesity is associated with increased serum MCP-1 and IL-6 and decreased PON1 and hypercholesterolemia suggesting an increase in adulthood disease risk. Measuring serum MCP-1, IL-6, PON1 activity in obese children may be a good predictor for future chronic disease development and complications
ABSTRACT
Considerable evidence indicates that increased oxidative stress and induction of apoptosis signaled through the Fas pathway appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes. The present study aimed to detect the soluble Fas [sFas] as apoptotic marker and the total antioxidant capacity [TAC] in type 1 diabetes [T1D] and high-risk group children and whether it is altered by antioxidant vitamin supplement. Forty-five participants were included in the study and divided into three groups: group 1 comprised 15 children with new onset diabetes; group 2 included 15 diabetic children with long-standing diabetes; and group 3 comprised 15 individuals of patient's relatives. Serum levels of sFas and TAC were measured and compared between groups before and after antioxidant vitamin supplementation. The highest level of sFas was found in group 2 [2196.7 +/- 579 pg/ml], however, with no statistical significance; after vitamins supplementation, its level showed significant decrease to reach 1156.6 +/- 460.8 pg/ml [P = 0.01]. Similar tendency of serum Fas decrease was observed in the group of relatives after vitamins supplementation [2088.3 +/- 396.5 vs. 1426.7 +/- 140.9, P < 0.01]. TAC was significantly lower in group 2 than in the other two groups, and it showed a significant increase after vitamin intake [0.29 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.40 +/- 0.05 micromol/l, P < 0.05]. One month of treatment with antioxidants vitamins supplement increased the antioxidant activity in long-standing T1D children and resulted in significant reduction in sFas level, suggesting the importance of this therapeutics in reducing apoptosis changes in children with T1D