RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Obese children and adolescents are more prone to have metabolic syndrome (MS).MS is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors associated with insulin resistance. Body round index [BRI], visceral adiposity index [VAI] and a body shape index [ABSI] are among the new obesity anthropometric parameters. AIM: To evaluate the new markers for obesity in children and their possible association with other laboratory and clinical variables of MS. METHODS: Eighty nine obese children and 40 controls aged 10-18 years were recruited. Full history taking, thorough clinical examination, anthropometric and biochemical features were performed in the studied groups. Subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) and visceral fat thickness (VFT) were estimated by ultrasonography. RESULTS: Obese children, exhibited significantly higher values in all anthropometric measurements (P < 0.001). Diastolic and systolic blood pressure were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the obese group. ABSI, BRI and VAI have been found to be significantly higher in obese subjects (P < 0.001), with no significant gender difference. BMI, WHtR, WC/HR, SBP, DBP, subcutaneous fat thickness and visceral fat thickness, Liver Span, ABSI, BRI, VAI and HOMA_IR were significantly higher among children with MS than those without MS. Positive significant correlations of VAI with BMI, WC/Ht, WC/Hip, SBP, DBP, SFT, VFT, Liver size and HOMA-IR (r = 0.384, 0.239, 0.268, 0.329, 0.516, 0.320, 0.254, 0.251, and 0.278 respectively) are shown. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of BMI, VAI, ABSI, BRI for predicting MS was 0.802 (0.701-0.902), 0.737 (0.33-0.841), 0.737 (0.620-0.855), 0.816 (0.698-0.934). CONCLUSION: We suggest using the VAI and WHtR indexes, as they are better predictor of MS.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Obesity and associated metabolic disorders are a worldwide epidemic. Recent evidence suggests that the microbial community in the human intestine may play an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity. The aim of this study was to assess the differences in the composition of the intestinal microbiota between obese and normal weight Egyptian children and adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 79 subjects among whom 51 were obese (23 children and 28 adults), and 28 were subjects of normal weight (17 children and 11 adults). Faecal samples were collected from all subjects. Total DNA was extracted from collected stool samples and submitted to conventional PCR for detection of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. All the studied group was subjected to clinical and anthropometric evaluation. Laboratory assessment of fasting glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and lipid profile was performed. RESULTS: The proportions of the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were statistically significantly increased in the obese group compared to the normal weight group (p < 0.001, p = 0.003 respectively). The study also found a statistically significant positive trend for higher hsCRP in subjects with positive Firmicutes (p = 0.004). However, no associations were found between positive Bacteroidetes and hsCRP. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that obesity in Egyptian children and adults is associated with compositional changes in faecal microbiota with increase in the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. This could be considered when developing strategies to control obesity and its associated diseases by modifying the gut microbiota.
