Association between oxidative stress and masked hypertension in a multi-ethnic population of obese children and adolescents.

Objective: To evaluate whether oxidative stress is correlated with adiposity, obesity-related metabolic abnormalities, and ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) in a multi-ethnic pediatric population.

Study Design: We conducted a prospective study enrolling 42 obese children (age, 12.8 ± 2.4 years) and 34 non-obese children (age, 11.8 ± 3.4 years). We measured urine 8-isoprostane and hydrogen peroxide (markers of oxidative stress) in both obese and non-obese groups. In the obese group, we measured the 24-hour ABP and obtained an oral glucose tolerance test, lipid panel, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α.

Results: 8-isoprostane and hydrogen peroxide were correlated with body mass index standard deviation score and waist circumference. The mean 8-isoprostane and hydrogen peroxide levels of the obese group were higher than those of the non-obese group. In the subset of obese subjects who underwent ABP monitoring, 8-isoprostane was correlated with mean 24-hour systolic blood pressure: within the obese group, 8-isoprostane was higher in obese children with elevated mean 24-hour systolic blood pressure.

Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence of a significant correlation between oxidative stress, adiposity, and blood pressure in children. Longitudinal studies in a larger population sample are needed to validate the association between elevated urine 8-isoprostane level and cardiovascular risk factors in an obese pediatric population.