Correlation of Childhood Obesity and Related Insulin Resistance with Leptin and Retinol Binding Protein 4.

Objectives: To study the correlation of obesity with various metabolic parameters and correlation between insulin resistance and leptin and retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels.

Methods: This is a cross sectional study in a tertiary care children's hospital wherein 98 obese children were included and their metabolic parameters analysed with regards to insulin resistance and RBP4 levels.

Results: Leptin levels were abnormal for all children and high RBP4 levels were observed in 69.6 %. There was no significant association between insulin resistance and RBP4 levels (p 0.8).

Conclusions: RBP4, the sole retinol transporter in blood, secreted from adipocytes and liver has been implicated in insulin resistance. The index study however, did not show a significant positive association.