Leptin and insulin resistance in obese children

Abstract EN

Background : Insulin resistance (IR) is the primary metabolic disorder associated with obesity.

Obesity is a growing worldwide health problem affecting both adults and children.

Objectives: To determine the association between leptin and IR, and to identify the ratio of fasting glucose/leptin (G / L) and insulin/leptin ( I / L) as a new simple method for the detection of IR in obese children.

Methods: This study was done in the National Diabetic Center/ AL-Mustansiriya University during the period from May 2013 until the end of October 2013.

Fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum insulin, leptin, and lipid profile were measured in 52 obese children (24 children with IR and 28 without IR); their age range was (5-15) years, they were compared with 38 healthy children as a control group.

Results: Means of FBG, insulin, leptin, total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and non high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non HDL-C) were significantly increased in obese children with IR as compared in children without IR, (P<0.05), while there was a significant decrease in serum level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in obese children with IR when compared with obese children without IR, (P=0.001).

There was a decrease in the ratio of G/L and an increase in the ratio of I/L in obese children with IR, but it was not significant.

A significant positive