Key result
Adolescent obesity links to greater carotid IMT and stiffness compared to lean controls.
Why the study?
The structural and functional alterations of systemic arteries in obese adolescents and their relationships with adiposity, metabolic and lipid profile, and serum liver enzyme levels were not well characterized.
Do obese adolescents have increased arterial stiffness and IMT compared to lean controls, and are these changes associated with serum liver enzyme levels?
Cross-Sectional (n=114)
Do obese adolescents have increased arterial stiffness and IMT compared to lean controls, and are these changes associated with serum liver enzyme levels?
Obese adolescents exhibit increased carotid IMT and arterial stiffness, which are independently correlated with elevated serum liver enzymes, suggesting early vascular alterations linked to hepatic steatosis.
Vascular changes in obese adolescents may link to metabolic factors; leaves open predictive value for later events.
AIM: To determine the structural and functional alterations of systemic arteries in obese adolescents and their relationships with adiposity, metabolic and lipid profile, and serum liver enzyme levels. METHODS: Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), carotid stiffness index, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were measured in 56 obese adolescents and 58 lean controls. Obese adolescents had additional liver ultrasound and determination of fasting blood indices of glucose metabolism and lipid profile, and serum levels of liver enzymes. RESULTS: Carotid IMT (P < 0.0001), carotid stiffness index (P < 0.0001) and baPWV (P = 0.001) were significantly greater in obese than control subjects. Thirty-seven (66%) obese subjects had fatty liver changes and their aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels were significantly higher than those without (all P < 0.05). Univariate analyses showed positive correlations between serum ALT (r = 0.29, P = 0.03) and alkaline phosphatase (r = 0.28, P = 0.04) levels and carotid IMT, aspartate aminotransferase level and carotid stiffness (r = 0.41, P = 0.002), and gamma-glutamyl transferase level and baPWV (r = 0.34, P = 0.02) in obese subjects. Multivariate linear regression revealed serum ALT level (β = 0.02, P = 0.006) as an independent correlate of carotid stiffness. CONCLUSION: Obese adolescents have increased carotid IMT and stiffness, which are associated positively with serum liver enzyme levels.
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Man et al. (2017) conducted a cross-sectional in Obesity (n=114). Obesity vs. Lean controls was evaluated on Carotid IMT, carotid stiffness index, and baPWV (p=<0.0001). Obese adolescents had greater carotid IMT and stiffness than controls (P<0.0001), and serum ALT level was an independent correlate of carotid stiffness in obese subjects (β=0.02, P=0.006).
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