Low vitamin D intake is associated with increase in cardiovascular risk factors in obese adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D on cardiovascular risk in obese adolescents. METHODS: Thirty (16 females/14 males) post-puberty obese adolescents (15-19 years) were involved and measurements of inflammatory biomarkers, body composition, visceral fat, and vitamin D (serum and intake) were performed. The adolescents were submitted to a long-term interdisciplinary therapy with physical exercise, nutritional, psychological, and clinical interventions. RESULTS: Negative correlations between vitamin D intake with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) (r=-0.69; p=0.01) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) (r=-0.82; p=0.001) were found in the population analyzed. Improvement in PAI-1, VCAM-1, body composition, and visceral fat, were observed. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that low vitamin D intake is associated with an increase in the cardiovascular risk factors in obese adolescents.

Reduction in saturated fat intake improves cardiovascular risks in obese adolescents during interdisciplinary therapy.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity is related to inflammation and cardiovascular disease. The increase in saturated fatty acid intake (SFA) can potentiate cardiovascular risks. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of change in SFA on carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), metabolic profile and anti/pro-inflammatory adipokines in obese adolescents. METHODS: Sixty obese adolescents were subjected to 1 year of interdisciplinary intervention (nutrition, psychology, physical exercise and clinical therapy). Blood glucose, insulin, lipid profile, leptin and adiponectin were analysed. Insulin resistance was estimated by HOMA-IR and HOMA-AD. cIMT was measured by ultrasonography. Dietetic intake was calculated by 3-day dietary record. Volunteers were analysed according to tertiles of change (Δ) in SFA intake: Low-SFA reduction<3.68 g; Moderate-SFA reduction 3.68-13.67 g; and High-SFA reduction>13.67 g. RESULTS: Moderate and High-SFA tertiles presented reduction in insulin, leptin/adiponectin ratio, cIMT and increase in adiponectin and adiponectin/leptin ratio. Adiponectin/leptin ratio was predictor of cIMT. HOMA-IR, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol reduced only in High-SFA tertile, and was associated with SFA independent of visceral fat. Negative correlations between Δ of SFA and adiponectin and adiponectin/leptin ratio were observed. CONCLUSION: Obese adolescents with moderate and high reduction in SFA presented improvements on pro/anti-inflammatory biomarkers and cIMT, leading to reduction in cardiovascular risks.

Saturated fatty acid intake can influence increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in obese adolescents.

The aim of this study was to verify if saturated fatty acid intake adjusted by tertiles can influence metabolic, inflammation, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in obese adolescents. Body mass, height, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, and body composition of 108 obese adolescents were obtained. Fasting glucose, insulin, PAI-1, and CRP were determined. Insulin resistance was assessed by Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity by Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI). Dietetic intake was estimated by a 3-day dietary record, and volunteers were divided according to consumption of saturated fatty acids: tertile 1 [Low Saturated Fatty Acid Intake (Low-SFA): ≤12.14 g], tertile 2 [Moderate Saturated Fatty Intake (Moderate SFA intake): 12.15-20.48 g], and tertile 3 [High Saturated Fatty Acid Intake (High-SFA Intake); >20.48 g]. Statistical analysis was performed using STATISTICA 7.0 software and the significance level was set at p<0.05. The most important finding in the present study is that Moderate and High-SFA intakes presented significantly higher values of PAI-1 than Low-SFA Intake. PAI-1 was positively associated with saturated fatty intake, waist circumference, mean blood pressure, and HOMA-IR. SFA intake was predictor of PAI-1 independent of body fat, HOMA-IR and total-cholesterol. In addition, PAI-1 was an independent predictor of blood pressure. HOMA-IR and QUICKI presented significantly higher and lower, respectively, in High-SFA compared to Moderate-SFA intake. High-SFA influenced cardiovascular disease risks, since it increased PAI-1 and insulin resistance, and decreased insulin sensibility, leading to vicious cycle among food ingestion, pro-thrombotic state, and cardiovascular risks in obese adolescents.

The role of leptinemia state as a mediator of inflammation in obese adults.

Hyperleptinemia has emerged as a marker of proinflammatory status, while the adiponectin/leptin ratio has been used to identify anti-inflammatory state. In this context, the aims of the present study were to investigate the role of leptinemia, adjusted by tertiles, on inflammatory state in obese adults according to obesity degree. This is a cross-sectional study comprised of 43 obese adults. The anthropometric variables and body composition were analyzed, as well as markers of inflammation such as leptin, adiponectin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor. Subjects were grouped using adjusted tertiles of the leptin levels. The major finding was the negative correlation between leptin concentration with adiponectin/leptin ratio (r=-0.622, p=0.000) and the positive correlation with leptin/adiponectin ratio (r=0.622, p=0.000). Indeed, both ratios were decreased and increased, respectively, according to the obesity degree. Furthermore, in the stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, the high degree of obesity was an independent predictor of leptinemia when adjusted for age and BMI (ß=0.588, p=0.000 and ß=0.778, p=0.005). Finally, the strong negatively correlation between the leptinemia with adiponectin/leptin ratio and the positive correlation with leptin/adiponectin ratio reinforce the role of this adipokine as a biomarker of inflammation in obese adults, according to obesity degree. Our findings can elucidate that hyperleptinemic status was a major factor in the proinflammatory status related to higher obesity degree. All together, these data reinforce the role of leptinemia state as a mediator of inflammation in obese adults.