Insulin resistance and inflammation markers: correlations in obese adolescents

Aims and objectives To ascertain whether inflammation markers also correlate with parameters related to insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome in a group of adolescents. Background Obesity is now considered a chronic low-grade inflammatory process, characterised by alterations in the systemic concentrations of some inflammation markers. Adiponectin, leptin and other inflammatory proteins have been shown to correlate with insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome in adults. Design Cross-sectional study in two groups of obese and normal weight adolescents. Methods Serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, ceruloplasmin and insulin levels were determined and correlated among them and with anthropometric parameters, blood pressure body mass index and body mass index z-score. Results Waist circumference, body mass index and blood pressure values correlated significantly with both homoeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance and insulin levels. Ceruloplasmin also correlated with both parameters with a high level of significance. However, leptin levels did not correlate with either homoeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance or insulin, and adiponectin correlated with homoeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance but not insulin. All inflammation markers studied correlated with the body mass index z-score. These correlations were stronger in the group of obese individuals compared to lean ones. Conclusions We found a relationship between insulin resistance and some inflammation in adolescents, which was particularly strong in obese individuals and was associated with the development of metabolic syndrome. Among the inflammation markers studied, ceruloplasmin revealed as a potential string marker of insulin resistance in obese adolescents. Relevance to clinical practice The results obtained in this study imply a significant advance in the field of clinical practice of nursing. The adequate understanding by nursing personnel of the inflammatory processes inherent to obesity constitutes a key factor for the prevention of the disease and its complications in adolescents.