C-reactive protein concentration in obese children followed in a pediatric/adolescent obesity clinic: changes over 12 months / Concentração de proteina C reativa em crianças obesas acompanhadas em Clínica de Obesidade Pediátrica e para Adolescentes: variações em 12 meses

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The literature provides limited information on the relationship between inflammation and obesity in the pediatric/adolescent population. Aim: To describe the changes in CRP concentration over a 12-month period and investigate whether CRP concentrations are associated with the components of MS in obese children and adolescents followed in an outpatient obesity clinic. Methods: Children and adolescents undergoing clinical treatment for obesity were studied. Assessment included anthropometric evaluation and determination of arterial blood pressure, waist circumference, lipid profile, fasting glucose and insulin, and CRP concentration at three time points study entry (baseline), 6 months, and 12 months. Results: We evaluated 27 children and adolescents with a median age of 10.3 years. Media CRP values at the three time points were 1.67 mg/L (0.53-3.99 mg/L), 1.42 mg/L (0.34-2.49 mg/L) and 0.97 mg/L (0.18-2.03 mg/L) (p = 0.083). We observed a reduction in blood pressure level fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HOMA and MS components, however without statistical significance. Individuals with the most marked drop in CRP also improved their lipid profile (p = 0.09) and increased HDL-c (p = 0.028). For the remaining variables, no correlation or only a weak one with the MS was observed. Conclusion: In this study with obese children and adolescents the median CRP concentration decreased over 12 months, however without statistical significance. The percentage of patients with moderate and severe inflammation also decreased. Despite the improvement in HDL and dysplipidemia in individuals with the most marked drop in CRP, an association between hsCRP and MS components was not observed.