1. ¹Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
2. ²Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maxmilians University, Munich, Germany

Correspondence: Dr D Molnár, Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, University of Pécs, József A. u. 7., 7623 Pécs, Hungary. E-mail: denes.molnar@aok.pte.hu

Received 27 October 2003; Revised 1 March 2004; Accepted 2 May 2004; Published online 17 August 2004.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In our previous study, the negative correlation found between plasma insulin levels and plasma -tocopherol concentrations suggested that decreased antioxidant vitamin levels and reduced antioxidant capacity might be a characteristic feature of obese children with multimetabolic syndrome (MMS).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate lipid-soluble antioxidant vitamin levels and total antioxidant status (TAS) in obese children with and without MMS and in controls.

SUBJECTS: In total, 16 control children (age: 16.21.1 y, BMI: 20.71.9 kg/m², body fat (BF): 25.65.7%; means.d.), 15 obese children (age: 13.42.1 y, BMI: 34.23.1 kg/m², BF: 36.95.8%,) and 17 obese children without MMS (age: 14.42.3 y, BMI: 30.46.2 kg/m², BF: 36.35.8%) were included in the study.

METHODS: Body composition was determined by anthropometric methods. Vitamin analysis was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography and TAS of the plasma was measured with commercially available kits. Plasma glucose, lipids and insulin were measured by standard laboratory methods.

RESULTS: Plasma -tocopherol and -carotene levels corrected for plasma lipids (cholesterol + triglyceride) were significantly (P<0.05) lower in obese children with MMS (2.4 (3.1) mol/mmol and 12.3 (24.0) pmol/mmol, respectively, median (range from the first to the third quartile)), than in the obese without MMS (3.7 (0.9) mol/mmol and 48.2 (27.7) pmol/mmol) and in the control group (3.8 (0.7) mol/mmol and 86.6 (44.5) pmol/mmol). Plasma TAS values of the MMS group (1.2 (0.4) mmol/l) were also significantly (P<0.05) reduced as compared to obese children without MMS (1.62 (0.14) mmol/l) and to controls (1.58 (0.21) mmol/l).

CONCLUSION: Obese children with MMS are prone to oxidative stress. Further investigations are necessary to determine if these children may benefit from vitamin E and -carotene supplementation.