RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an adipocytokine that is abundantly expressed in visceral fat tissue. We investigated the association of interleukin-10 with the number of metabolic risk factors. FINDING: The study population comprised 220 children who underwent annual health checkups. Plasma Interleukin-10 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We divided the subjects into 4 groups according to Interleukin-10 levels. A reduction of plasma interleukin-10 levels significantly correlated with an increase in the mean number of metabolic risk factors such as increased waist circumference, BMI, dyslipidaemia, high blood pressure and glucose intolerance. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating Interleukin-10 levels negatively correlated with the multiplicity of metabolic risk factors, suggesting that IL-10 acts as a biomarker of metabolic disorders.