Plasma Amino-Terminal Propeptide of C-Type Natriuretic Peptide Concentration in Normal-Weight and Obese Children

What is already known on this topic?What this study adds?Objective: In studies on the relationship between amino-terminal propeptide of C-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proCNP) concentration and height velocity in children, CNP has been implicated as an emerging new growth marker during childhood.It has been reported that besides its well-studied role in growth, plasma CNP levels are reduced in overweight and/or obese adolescents, suggesting CNP as a potential biomarker in childhood obesity.The primary goal of this study was to test this hypothesis in a Turkish population.Methods: Consent was taken from 317 children [ages 0-18 (158 girls, 159 boys)] and their parents.All subjects were physically examined; anthropometric measurements were obtained.Body mass index was calculated.During routine blood work, 1 mL extra blood was taken.Plasma NT-proCNP concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: Results confirmed the previously described relationship between plasma NT-proCNP concentration and growth velocity.Plasma NT-proCNP concentration showed a negative correlation with age, weight, and height in children.Gender was not a factor that alters the age-dependent plasma NT-proCNP concentration until puberty.Conclusion: Unlike previous reports, plasma NT-proCNP concentration of overweight/obese children was not significantly lower than that of children with normal weight in age groups analyzed in a Turkish population.Thus, it is too early to conclude that CNP is a potential biomarker in childhood obesity.Further studies are necessary to address this question.Keywords: C-type natriuretic peptide, amino-terminal propeptide of C-type natriuretic peptide, obesity, overweight, growth, biomarker In contrast to what has been suggested before, plasma NT-proCNP concentration of children with overweight/obesity was not significantly lower than that of children with normal weight in age groups analyzed in a Turkish population.Thus, it is too early to conclude that CNP is a potential biomarker in childhood obesity.Further studies are necessary to address this question.Results confirmed the previously described relationship between plasma amino-terminal propeptide of C-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proCNP) concentration and growth velocity.Plasma NT-proCNP concentration showed a negative correlation with age, weight, and height in children.Gender was not a factor that alters the age-dependent plasma NT-proCNP concentration until puberty.