Decreased plasma apelin levels in pubertal obese children

• Published in: Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM Vol. 23; no. 10; p. 1039
• Main Authors: Tapan, Serkan, Tascilar, Emre, Abaci, Ayhan, Sonmez, Alper, Kilic, Selim, Erbil, M Kemal, Ozcan, Okan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01-10-2010
• Subjects: Adolescent; Apelin; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Child; Child, Preschool; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Female; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - blood; Male; Obesity - blood; Puberty - blood
• ISSN: 0334-018X
• DOI: 10.1515/jpem.2010.165

Apelin is a recently defined peptide relevant to the mechanism of obesity-related disorders. There has been no report so far about the levels of plasma apelin in obese children.
In this study plasma apelin, adiponectin, and high sensitivity C reactive protein levels were investigated in obese (n=32) and nonobese (n=40) children. The effects of pubertal status on the apelin and adiponectin levels were evaluated as well.
When compared to nonobese controls, the obese children had significantly lower plasma apelin (p = 0.004), adiponectin and HDL cholesterol levels (p = 0.001 for both), and higher hs-CRP, triglycerides, insulin and Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-IR) indexes (p < 0.001 for all). The difference between the apelin levels was present only in the pubertal period (p = 0.002).
The results of the present study indicate that plasma apelin levels are lower in child obesity and pubertal state is an important determinant of plasma apelin levels.