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.