Plasma Visfatin Concentration as a Surrogate Marker for Visceral Fat Accumulation in Obese Children

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to elucidate whether the plasma visfatin level reflects visceral or subcutaneous fat accumulation and metabolic derangement in obese children. Methods and Procedures: Fifty-six obese Japanese children, including 37 boys and 19 girls were enrolled in the study. The age of the subjects ranged from 5 to 15 (10.2 ± 0.3; mean ± s.e.m.) years. The age-matched control group for measuring visfatin consisted of 20 non-obese children. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) areas were measured by computed tomography. The plasma concentrations for visfatin and leptin were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results: The plasma visfatin level was higher in the obese (14.7 ± 0.9 ng/ml) than in the control children (8.6 ± 0.6 ng/ml). In a univariate analysis, the visfatin correlated significantly with age, height, body weight, waist circumference, VAT and SAT area, triglyceride (TG), insulin, and the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-R). After being adjusted for age and sex, only the VAT area retained significant partial correlation with visfatin, and in contrast the body weight, BMI-s.d., and SAT area with leptin. The plasma visfatin concentration was not correlated with leptin. The plasma visfatin levels in the control, non-metabolic syndrome (MS) (n = 49), and MS groups (n = 7) were significantly different from each other. Discussion: These results suggest that plasma visfatin level is a specific marker for visceral fat accumulation in obese children. As a good surrogate marker, plasma visfatin level can predict the VAT area in obese children.

Elevated vaspin and leptin levels are associated with obesity in prepubertal Korean children

“…One report stated that the boys had a higher visfatin level than girls (1.62 ± 1.36 ng/mL, 1.47 ± 1.26 ng/mL, respectively), which is consistent with our results. However, the differences were not significant (p=0.527) [34]. We also found that visfatin is associated with metabolic parameters that are related to obesity and metabolic syndrome, which is in accordance with earlier studies [9,10,12,13,34].…”

“…In children, elevated serum visfatin levels are associated with visceral adipose tissue area, obesity, and metabolic syndrome [10][11][12][13]34]. Several studies have shown that visfatin is positively correlated with HOMA-IR in children [10,35].…”

CCL2 level is elevated with metabolic syndrome and CXCL10 level is correlated with visceral fat area in obese children

“…We previously reported that plasma leptin levels were more closely linked to SAT than VAT, whereas plasma visfatin was a specific marker for VAT [40]. In our study, circulating CXCL10 levels were correlated with VFA and not SFA.…”

Serum visfatin and vaspin levels in prepubertal children: effect of obesity and weight loss after behavior modifications on their secretion and relationship with glucose metabolism

“…Relationship between visfatin levels and BMI status Higher circulating visfatin levels in obese children and their positive correlation with BMI have been previously reported; [16][17][18] however, these series pooled children and adolescents together, thus masking the possible effect of pubertal developmental stage and sex steroid influence. Hence, the demonstration of increased visfatin levels in a cohort made up exclusively of young prepubertal obese children constitutes an original contribution of this study.…”

“…11 However, there are contrasting reports regarding the relationship between vaspin levels, body mass index (BMI) and carbohydrate metabolism impairment, 12,13 as well as regarding the influence exerted by physical training and weight reduction on its circulating levels. 14,15 To date, the studies analyzing visfatin [16][17][18] and vaspin levels 19,20 in children and adolescents are sparse and, to our knowledge, nonexistent in young prepubertal children. Moreover, the lack of pharmacological treatments for obesity in this age range poses great difficulties in the achievement of large weight reduction based exclusively upon conservative treatment.…”