Interleukin-6 and highly sensitive C-reactive protein in obese adolescents

Michael Kasenda (Department of Child Health, Sam Ratulangi University Medical School, Manado)
Suryadi Tantura (Department of Child Health, Sam Ratulangi University Medical School, Manado)
Sarah Warouw (Department of Child Health, Sam Ratulangi University Medical School, Manado)

Paediatrica Indonesiana
Vol 52 No 4 (2012): July 2012

Background Childhood obesity is a major health concern.Obesity is due to an expansion of adipose tissue mass. This tissueproduces pro􀁞inflarmnatory cytokines, such as interleukin􀁞6 (IL--6).IL􀁞6 is considered to be the chief stimulator of the production ofhighly sensitive C􀁞reactive protein (hsCRP) in the liver. Bothmolecules are responsible for the chronic low􀁞grade inflammatorystate in obese individuals.Objective To assess a correlation between IL􀁞6 and hsCRP inobese adolescents.Methods This cross􀁞sectional study was conducted from Marchto June 2011 in Manado. Subjects were obese and normal bodymass index (BMI) teens aged 13􀁞18 years. Serum glutamicoxaloacetic transaminase (SOOT) and serum glutamic pyruvictransaminase (SOPT) levels were measured to rule out liverimpairment. IL􀁞6 and hsCRP levels were also measured. Data wasanalyzed by Pearson's correlation and linear regression to test forcorrelation between IL--6 and hsCRP levels.Results There was a strongly positive correlation between IL􀁞6and hsCRP levels in obese adolescents (r=0.79 with P<O.OOl).IL--6 and hsCRP levels were not significantly associated in subjectswith normal BMI.Conclusions There was a strongly positive correlation betweenIL--6 and hsCRP levels in obese adolescents, suggestive of anongoing, chronic, low􀁞grade inflammatory state. [PaediatrIndanes.2012;52:219-22].