Association of serum resistin levels with metabolic syndrome and early atherosclerosis in obese Chinese children

AIM: To investigate the association of serum resistin levels with metabolic syndrome (MS) and early atherosclerosis in obese children. METHODS: A total of 176 obese children and 88 healthy children were enrolled in this study, and were gender and age matched. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ the 95th percentile for age and sex. All children had a physical examination and routine hematology testing for fasting blood glucose, insulin, and lipids profile. Homeostasis model of assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated, as insulin resistance has a central role in the pathophysiology of MS. Non-invasive ultrasound measurement was obtained to investigate carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) as the markers of early atherosclerosis. Path analysis was used to evaluate the value of resistin levels to early atherosclerosis. RESULTS: The resistin levels were higher in obese children compared to healthy children (23.14 ± 7.35 vs. 17.1 ± 5.7 ng/mL, p<0.05), and it is positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, IMT and high sensitive CRP (Hs-CRP), but not related to diastolic blood pressure, blood lipids and fasting glucose. A positive linear correlation was observed between resistin and the number of MS components. Path analysis indicated serum resistin can directly (β=0.304, p=0.001), and indirectly via HOMA-IR (β=0.085, p=0.008) and Hs-CRP (β=0.047, p=0.029), contribute to early atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: Resistin not only play a certain role in the presence of MS, but also indirectly via insulin resistance and Hs-CRP to contribute to early atherosclerosis in obese children.