Adipose tissue and liver lipid metabolism in obese children: role of the body mass index and the presence of acanthosis nigricans.

Aims: The aims of our study were to determine if insulin resistance is associated with increased plasma levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glycerol, 3-hydroxybutyrate and triglycerides in obese children. We also studied whether the presence of acanthosis nigricans (AN) led to further alterations in the above parameters.

Methods: A total of 101 children were studied on their first visit to the paediatric endocrine clinic. Seventy-four were obese, 30 of them with AN. The remaining 27 were non-obese healthy children (control group). NEFAs, glycerol, triglycerides, 3-hydroxybutyrate, insulin, leptin, adiponectin and glucose were determined in blood samples obtained after overnight fasting. The insulin resistance index (IRI) was calculated following the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Data from the three groups were compared using appropriate statistical tests.

Results: No differences in age, sex ratio and pubertal stage were observed among the three groups. The group of children with the highest body mass index (BMI) showed higher plasma levels of insulin and leptin, higher IRI and lower plasma levels of adiponectin. As insulin and IRI increased, NEFA and 3-hydroxybutyrate decreased and triglycerides increased. When obese children were categorized by BMI, the presence of AN further exacerbated these differences.

Conclusions: In obese children, insulin resistance is associated with plasma lipid alterations suggestive of both decreased adipose tissue lipolysis and hepatic beta-oxidation and increased hepatic synthesis of triglycerides. Such a metabolic condition may facilitate fat storage and hinder weight loss.