Inflammatory Markers and Body Mass Index Amoung Hispanic Children

Background and Objectives Body mass index (BMI) is inversely proportional with adiponectin levels among adults, while insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), resistin, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) have been linked with elevated BMI. The role and relation of these biomarkers with BMI among Hispanic pediatric populations are less known. Thus, the objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association of inflammatory markers with the odds of overweight/obesity while controlling for several sociodemographic factors among a Hispanic youth population of Northeast Tennessee. Methods Height, weight, demographic information, and blood samples were collected from 107 Hispanic children aged 2 to 10 years recruited at a large community health center in 2015-2016 in Northeast Tennessee. Data for this research were accessed and analyzed in 2022. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to assess the relations between adiponectin, insulin, resistin, CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6, and overweight/obesity vs. having a healthy (normal) weight. Results Adiponectin levels were significantly lower among overweight/obese Hispanic children (p = 0.0048) compared to healthy weight children. The odds of overweight/obesity decreased by 4% for every one-unit increase in serum adiponectin. Insulin levels were significantly higher among overweight/obese Hispanic children (p = 0.0048) compared to healthy weight children ( p= 0.0008). The odds of overweight/obesity increased by 7% for every one-unit increase in serum insulin. Resistin, IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP were not significantly associated with overweight/obesity in this population. Conclusion Adiponectin behaves similarly in Hispanic youth as it does in other pediatric populations, possibly making it a valuable marker when examining metabolic health status in this population.