Obesity is reaching epidemic proportions worldwide and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Some mechanisms linking obesity with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are metabolic and hormonal alterations such as dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia and hyperleptinemia. These mechanisms are well studied in the elderly population, but data concerning adolescents are still scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate body-weight associated alterations of these risk factors in young men, aged 17–20 years.
Methods:
The cross-sectional study included 80 men, divided into two groups according to their body mass index (BMI: cutoff = 25 kg/m2): group N (normal: n = 55; BMI <25; age 17.9 ± 1.5 years), and group OW/O (overweight/obese: n = 25; BMI>25; age 17.9 ± 1.6 years). Anthropometric indices included BMI, waist circumference, and waist/hip ratio. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), uric acid and leptin/adiponectin (L/A) ratio were determined in both groups. Data were analyzed using variation and correlation tests from SPSS 10.0. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD).
Results:
TC and TG were significantly higher in the OW/O group in comparison with the controls (4.59 ± 0.93 versus 4.05 ± 0.71, and 1.46 ± 0.78 versus 1.04 ± 0.46 mmol/l, respectively, p < 0.05 for both). In the OW/O group, blood pressure, L/A ratio, and uric acid were also significantly higher compared with group N (0.68 ± 0.81 versus 0.14 ± 0.14 for L/A ratio, p < 0.01, and 385.0 ± 74.6 versus 344.6 ± 65.3 μmol/L for uric acid, p < 0.05). The L/A ratio in the control group correlated significantly with body weight, waist circumference and TG levels, and with body weight, BMI, waist circumference and uric acid in the OW/O group. Uric acid correlated significantly with anthropometric parameters in both groups.
Conclusions:
Our data indicate that unfavorable metabolic and hormonal alterations occur early in overweight subjects, while they are still clinically healthy. In the OW/O group both L/A ratio and uric acid are more strongly associated with anthropometric indices, which suggests that they can be modified by lifestyle interventions.
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