1. ^*School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota;
2. ^†Departments of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota;
3. ^‡Departments of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota;
4. ^§Department of Research, St. Paul Heart Clinic, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Correspondence: Donald R. Dengel St. Paul Heart Clinic, Department of Research, 225 Smith Ave. N., Suite 400, St. Paul, MN 55102. E-mail: kauf0127@umn.edu

Received 25 August 2006; Revised  0000; Accepted 20 November 2006.

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to examine cardiovascular autonomic (cANS) function and its potential relationships with leptin resistance, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation in a pediatric sample with varying levels of obesity.

Research Methods and Procedures: Participants were normal-weight (NW; BMI <85th percentile, 6 male, 4 female), overweight (OW; 85th percentile < BMI <95th percentile, 6 male, 4 female), and obese children (OB; BMI >95th percentile, 6 male, 10 female) who had cANS function assessed via heart rate variability (HRV) methods during resting conditions. Standard time-domain and frequency-domain measures [high-frequency normalized units (HFnu; measure of parasympathetic nervous system activity) and low frequency:high-frequency ratio (LF:HF; overall sympathovagal balance)] of HRV were calculated. Fasting blood samples were drawn for measurement of glucose, insulin, lipids, 8-isoprostane, leptin, soluble leptin-receptor (sOB-R), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-). Results were reported as mean standard error of the mean.

Results: OB had significantly elevated LF:HF and decreased HFnu when compared with NW (p < 0.05), but no differences between OW and NW were observed. Measures of HRV were significantly related to leptin, insulin resistance, 8-isoprostane, and CRP (p < 0.05), but these relationships were not significant after adjustment for fat mass.

Discussion: When compared with NW, OB but not OW children are characterized by cANS dysfunction and increased leptin, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation (CRP). The relationships between these factors seem to be dependent on quantity of fat mass and/or other factors associated with being obese.