Homocysteine concentrations in overweight children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe homocysteine concentrations in overweight and obese children and adolescents and relate them to blood pressure levels, renal function, and insulin resistance.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional and observational study with 64 overweight children and adolescents (mean age: 11.6±3.5 years) in outpatient follow-up. The following parameters were evaluated: body mass index z-score, waist-to-height circumference ratio, pubertal stage, blood pressure, serum homocysteine, glycemia, insulin, lipid profile, renal function, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, microalbuminuria, and creatinuria. Statistical analysis: analysis of variance and logistic regression (dependent variable: homocysteine) (p<0.05).

RESULTS

The mean body mass index z-score was 2.9±1.1. The mean homocysteine concentrations were 8.6±2.2 μmol/L (10th and 90th percentiles: 6.6 and 11.2 μmol/L, respectively), with no difference when compared with children with severe obesity and obesity/overweight (p=0.431). High values of waist-to-height ratio (93.8%), systolic blood pressure (18.8%), diastolic blood pressure (12.5%), glycemia (4.7%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (31.1%), triglycerides (35.9%), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (34.4%), and microalbuminuria (21.9%) were obtained. The mean glomerular filtration rate was 122.9±24.6 mL/min/1.73 m². Homocysteine concentrations were not associated with any of the studied variables (R²=0.095).

CONCLUSION

Homocysteine concentrations in overweight children and adolescents (mean 8.6±2.2 μmol/L) were not associated with body mass index z-score, blood pressure, renal function, and insulin resistance.