Soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products and lipid profile ratio as cardiovascular risk markers in children with obesity.

INTRODUCTION

Obesity has been shown to be associated with low levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE).

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the levels of sRAGE and its association with the lipid index in children with obesity.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study of children with obesity aged between six and 11 years. Anthropometric measurements, glucose, lipid profile, insulin and sRAGE were evaluated; body mass index, total cholesterol/high-density cholesterol (TC/HDL-C), triglycerides/glucose (TG/glucose), and triglycerides/HDL-C (TG-HDL-C) ratios and HOMA-IR were also calculated.

RESULTS

Eighty children were studied, among which 50% were males and 50% females. Females had higher values for waist circumference, HOMA-IR, and TG/HDL-C and TG/glucose ratios. No significant differences were found for sRAGE. When the variables were compared according to TG/HDL-C ratio tertiles, higher TC/HDL, TG/glucose, and sRAGE values were found at upper tertile. A significant correlation was observed between sRAGE and HOMA-IR (p < 0.03) in males, and between sRAGE and TG/HDL-C (p < 0.01) and TG/glucose ratios (p < 0.008) in females.

CONCLUSIONS

The female gender showed more cardiovascular risk factors and higher sRAGE at TG/HDL-C upper tertile. Further studies are required to test the possible predictive effect of higher risk for developing metabolic and cardiovascular complications.