Abstract

VISO GONZALEZ, Miguel Eduardo et al. Insulina serica en niños y adolescentes obesos y eutróficos . An Venez Nutr [online]. 2004, vol.17, n.2, pp.3-12. ISSN 0798-0752.

Insulin hormone concentration is related to obesity and its complications. In order to determine insulin levels in children and adolescents and to establish associations to age, gender, nutritional status and dietary intake, 124 children and adolescents (68 eutrophic, 56 overweight, aged 2 to 15 years). were assessed. Socioeconomic status (Graffar Mendez method), dietary intake (24 hour recalls and food frequency), nutritional status (anthropometry) and insulin by ELISA were determined. Normal nutritional status was defined by weight/height (W/H) or body mass index (BMI) with fatty area between 10^th and 90^th percentile and obesity when the mentioned indicators were above 90^th percentile. Body fat distribution was assessed by waist/thight ratio. Insulin was significantly higher in overweight subjects, and in adolescents, but there was no difference by gender. Percentile distribution for insulin showed 75^th percentile at 9,17 µIU/ml for normal and at 16,63 µIU/ml for overweight subjects. There was a direct positive significant association of insulin to protein dietary intake and inverse to waist-thigh ratio. Results suggest that obese children and adolescents had insulin resistance. A educational program on nutrition and personal attention should be established in order to prevent and control infantile obesity.

Keywords : insulin; children; adolescents; obesity; anthropometry; insulin resistance; dietary intake.