Background: The prevalence of obesity and related cardiovascular comorbodities is increasing rapidly. Adipokines play a major role in the pathogenesis of obesity-related inflammation and hypertension.
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum adropin levels in obese children and to determine the relationship between adropin levels and blood pressure (BP) in the pediatric age group.
Methods: Forty obese children (mean age: 12.5 ± 2.5 years; male/female ratio: 18/22) and 15 healthy controls (mean age: 15 ± 3.14 years; male/female ratio: 5/15) were included in the study. Serum adropin levels, and a number of laboratory and clinical variables were compared. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed on obese subjects. Relationship between adropin levels and BP variables was examined.
Results: Serum adropin levels were significantly lower in obese subjects than in healthy controls (193.56 ± 94 vs. 289 ± 187 pg/mL, p = 0.03). Adropin levels were correlated negatively with body mass index z-score (r = -0.56; p = 0.034). There was no correlation between serum adropin levels and laboratory variables in obese subjects. Five of the patients (12.5%) were nondipper, and nine of the patients (22.5%) had hypertension. There was no significant correlation between serum adropin levels and BP variables.
Conclusion: Serum adropin levels were significantly lower in obese children; however, there was no correlation between serum adropin levels and BP variables. Further studies are needed to determine the role of adipokines on BP.