Relationship between severe obesity and gut inflammation in children: what's next?

• Main Authors: Assante Luca (Author), Squeglia Veronica (Author), Franzese Adriana (Author), Caiazzo Maria (Author), Cicalese Maria (Author), Spagnuolo Maria (Author), Valerio Giuliana (Author), Merone Rossella (Author), Guarino Alfredo (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2010-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/1824-7288-36-66; 1720-8424; 1824-7288
• Keywords: Pediatrics; RJ1-570
• Source: Italian Journal of Pediatrics, Vol 36, Iss 1, p 66 (2010)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Preliminary evidence suggests an association between obesity and gut inflammation.</p> <p>Aims</p> <p>To evaluate the frequency of glucose abnormalities and their correlation with systemic and intestinal inflammation in severely obese children.</p> <p>Patients and Methods</p> <p>Thirty-four children (25 males; median age 10.8 ± 3.4 yrs) with severe obesity (BMI >95%) were screened for diabetes with oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), systemic inflammation with C-reactive protein (CRP) and gut inflammation with rectal nitric oxide (NO) and faecal calprotectin.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>BMI ranged from 23 to 44 kg/m², and BMI z-score between 2.08 e 4.93 (median 2.69 ± 0.53). Glucose abnormalities were documented in 71% of patients: type 2 diabetes in 29%, impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in 58%, and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in 37.5%. Thirty-one patients (91%) were hyperinsulinemic. CRP was increased in 73.5% with a correlation between BMI z-score and CRP (p 0.03). Faecal calprotectin was increased in 47% patients (mean 77 ± 68), and in 50% of children with abnormal glucose metabolism (mean 76 ± 68 μg/g), with a correlation with increasing BMI z-score. NO was pathological in 88%, and in 87.5% of glucose impairment (mean 6.8 ± 5 μM).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In this study, the prevalence of glucose abnormalities in obese children is higher than in other series; furthermore, a correlation is present between markers of systemic and intestinal inflammation and glucose abnormalities.</p>