Abstract 146

Background: Previously we found reduced availability of α-tocopherol (TOC) and β-carotene (CAR) in obese children (OB) (J Pediatr 130:653-5). Subjects: OB with and without MMS (abdominal obesity, hyperinsulinaemia, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension) and controls (CO) were investigated [n=16 - 16 -16, age: 13.1 (1.8) - 14.9 (2.4) - 16.9 (0.8) years, body weight relative to normal weight for height: 179.2 (23.9) - 149.7 (19.9) - 104.2 (7.9) %, body mass index: 34.3 (2.3) - 27.7 (3.9) - 21.5 (1.6) kg/m2, median (IQR), respectively]. Measurements: TOC and CAR were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Lipid [cholesterol (C) + triglyceride (TG)] corrected TOC and CAR values varied significantly among the groups: OB without MMS had lower values than CO, while the lowest values were seen in OB with MMS [TOC/(C+TG): CO: 3.78 (0.35), OB (no MMS): 3.62 (0.46), OB (MMS): 2.62 (1.54) µM/mM, P < 0.05; CAR/(C+TG): CO: 86.6 (22.6), OB (no MMS): 50.2 (15.2), OB (MMS): 14.7 (15.5), pM/mM, P < 0.0001]. Conclusion: Availability of α-tocopherol and β-carotene is even more markedly reduced in obese children with than in those without multimetabolic syndrome.