Homocysteine concentrations in overweight children and adolescents

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe homocysteine concentrations in overweight and obese children and adolescents and relate them to blood pressure levels, renal function, and insulin resistance. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional and observational study with 64 overweight children and adolescents (mean age: 11.6±3.5 years) in outpatient follow-up. The following parameters were evaluated: body mass index z-score, waist-to-height circumference ratio, pubertal stage, blood pressure, serum homocysteine, glycemia, insulin, lipid profile, renal function, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, microalbuminuria, and creatinuria. Statistical analysis: analysis of variance and logistic regression (dependent variable: homocysteine) (p<0.05). RESULTS: The mean body mass index z-score was 2.9±1.1. The mean homocysteine concentrations were 8.6±2.2 μmol/L (10th and 90th percentiles: 6.6 and 11.2 μmol/L, respectively), with no difference when compared with children with severe obesity and obesity/overweight (p=0.431). High values of waist-to-height ratio (93.8%), systolic blood pressure (18.8%), diastolic blood pressure (12.5%), glycemia (4.7%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (31.1%), triglycerides (35.9%), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (34.4%), and microalbuminuria (21.9%) were obtained. The mean glomerular filtration rate was 122.9±24.6 mL/min/1.73 m². Homocysteine concentrations were not associated with any of the studied variables (R²=0.095). CONCLUSION: Homocysteine concentrations in overweight children and adolescents (mean 8.6±2.2 μmol/L) were not associated with body mass index z-score, blood pressure, renal function, and insulin resistance.

Association between acanthosis nigricans and overweight with hypertension in children and adolescents from low-income families

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the prevalence of acanthosis nigricans and high blood pressure in children and adolescents from low-income families, and to verify the association of elevated blood pressure with nutritional status and the presence of acanthosis nigricans. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional and controlled study with 232 children and adolescents from an institution for low-income families. Pubertal stage, body mass index Z-score, waist-to-height circumference ratio (increased waist-to-height circumference ratio >0.5), the presence of acanthosis nigricans, and blood pressure were assessed. RESULTS: The prevalence of excess weight and the change in waist-to-height circumference ratio was 37.9%. Acanthosis nigricans and increased blood pressure occurred in 20.3 and 34.8%, respectively. The prevalence of acanthosis nigricans and hypertension was higher in individuals with excess weight (p<0.001; p<0.001) and with an increased waist-to-height circumference ratio (p=0.009; p<0.001). Logistic regression showed a significant and independent association of body mass index Z-score (OR 2.35; 95%CI 1.52-3.65; p<0.001) and the presence of acanthosis nigricans (OR 2.43; 95%CI 1.12-5.23; p=0.023) with elevated blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Acanthosis nigricans and elevated blood pressure occurred in one-fifth and one-third of the individuals in an institution for children from low-income families. Overweight and the presence of acanthosis nigricans increased the risk of high blood pressure more than twofold.

Relationship between body mass index and waist-to-height ratio in childhood

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether there is an association between the body mass index z-score and waist-to-height ratio of children and adolescents. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a school in Santo André, SP, between June and August 2019. Body mass index was measured for all participants, adopting the z-score cutoff of +2 recommended by the World Health Organization. The waist-to-height ratio was determined in children over two years of age and considered abnormal when ≥0.5. The qualitative variables are presented as absolute numbers and percentages. To compare qualitative data, we used the χ2 test or Fisher's exact test. Pearson's test was applied to assess the correlation between BMI and waist-to-height ratio. The level of significance adopted was 5%. RESULTS: The body mass index was calculated for 518 children and the waist-to-height ratio for 473 children. Regarding body mass index, 60.6% of the participants had normal weight, 3.1% were underweight, and 36.3% were overweight. overweight (24.7%) and obesity (22.7%) were more prevalent in adolescents. The waist-to-height ratio was abnormal in 50.5% of the sample. There was an increasing association between body mass index and waist-to-height ratio with age, according to the Pearson correlation coefficients for the age groups <5 years (r=0.459; p<0.001), 5 to 10 years (r=0.687; p<0.001) and >10 years (r=0.805; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: There was a significant correlation between body mass index and waist-to-height ratio. This association was higher in adolescents. The waist-to-height ratio is easy to apply and may be useful as a predictor of cardiometabolic risk.

Albuminuria and glomerular filtration rate in obese children and adolescents / Albuminúria e taxa de filtração glomerular em crianças e adolescentes obesos

Abstract Objective: To describe the frequency of albuminuria in overweight and obese children and adolescents and to relate it to the severity of obesity, pubertal staging, associated morbidities and the glomerular filtration rate. Method: Cross-sectional study including 64 overweight and obese children and adolescents between 5 and 19 years of age. Data collected: weight, height, waist circumference and systemic arterial pressure. Laboratory tests: lipid profile; glycemia and insulin, used to calculate the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-IR); C-reactive protein; glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and albuminuria in an isolated urine sample (cutoff <30 mg/g). Creatinine was used to calculate the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, mL/min/1.73 m2). Results: The mean age was 11.6 ± 3.4 years, 32 (50%) and 29 (45.3%) were male and prepubertal. Forty-six (71.9%) had severe obesity. The frequency and median (min/max) of the observed values for albuminuria (> 30 mg/g) were 14 (21.9%) and 9.4 mg/g (0.70, -300.7 mg/g). The mean eGFR was 122.9 ± 24.7 mL/min/1.73 m2. There was no significant correlation between body mass index, pubertal staging, insulin and HOMA-IR with albuminuria values and neither with eGFR. Children with albuminuria tended to have higher values of diastolic blood pressure (75.0 ± 12.2 vs. 68.1 ± 12.4, p = 0.071). Conclusion: Albuminuria, although frequent in children and adolescents with obesity, was not associated with other morbidities and the glomerular filtration rate in these patients.

Resumo Objetivo: Descrever a frequência de albuminúria em crianças e adolescentes com sobrepeso e obesidade e relacioná-la com a gravidade da obesidade, estadiamento puberal, morbidades associadas e com a taxa de filtração glomerular. Método: Estudo transversal incluindo 64 crianças e adolescentes com sobrepeso e obesidade entre 5 e 19 anos de idade. Dados coletados: peso, estatura, circunferência abdominal e pressão arterial sistêmica. Exames laboratoriais: perfil lipídico; glicemia e insulina, utilizados para cálculo do Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-IR); proteína C reativa; transaminase glutâmico-pirúvica e albuminúria em amostra isolada de urina (ponto de corte < 30 mg/g). A creatinina foi utilizada para o cálculo da taxa de filtração glomerular estimada (eTFG, mL/min/1,73m2). Resultados: A média de idade foi 11,6±3,4 anos, 32 (50%) e 29 (45,3%) eram do gênero masculino e pré-púberes. Quarenta e seis (71,9%) apresentavam obesidade grave. A frequência e a mediana (min/max) dos valores observados para albuminúria (> 30 mg/g) foram 14 (21,9%) e 9,4 mg/g (0,70; -300,7 mg/g). A média da eTFG foi 122,9±24,7 mL/min/1,73 m2. Não houve correlação significante entre o índice de massa corporal, estadiamento puberal, insulina e HOMA-IR com os valores de albuminúria e nem com a eTFG. Crianças com albuminúria tiveram tendência a valores mais elevados de pressão arterial diastólica (75,0±12,2 vs 68,1±12,4, p = 0,071). Conclusão: A albuminúria, apesar de frequente em crianças e adolescentes com obesidade, não se associou com outras morbidades e nem com a taxa de filtração glomerular nesses pacientes.

Estado nutricional de crianças institucionalizadas: influência do peso de nascimento e análise da idade óssea / Institutionalized children nutritional status, influence of the birth weight and analysis of the bony age

A populaçäo brasileira apresenta alta prevalência de déficits estaturais em crianças de 0 a 5 anos, de acordo com os dados da Pesquisa Nacional sobre Saúde e Nutriçäo, 1996(10,2). O objetivo do presente trabalho foi o de realizar avaliaçäo antropométrica e avaliar o crescimento-ósseo de crianças desnutridas pregressas verificando a influência do peso ao nascer(PN). Foi realizada avaliaçäo de 175 crianças de 1 a 7 anos que frequentam a Creche Somasquinho(Santo André, SP)de acordo com os critérios: Gomez(<2 anos) e Waterlow/Batista(>2 anos). Foi avaliada a idade de óssea(IO), método de Greulich-Pyle, de 33 crianças classificadas como desnutridas pregressas. A avaliaçäo antropométrica mostrou:118/175(67,4)eutróficas, 57/175(32,8) desnutridas(DEP), sendo 48/58(82,7)progressos. Observou-se influência significante do PN no grupo de crianças desnutridas. Houve atraso superior na IO do carpo em relaçäo a falange/metacarpo nas crianças com-2ZIO. As crianças com baixo PN mostraram maior atraso na IO. Conluiu-se que o baixo PN é importante fator de risco para déficits estaturais