| Abstract: | Objectives: To determine the presence of traditional and emergent cardiovascular risk factors and to evaluate the triglyceride/high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (Tg/HDL‐C) ratio as a marker for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome (MS) in obese children. Material and methods: Sixty‐seven prepubertal children of both sexes, between the ages of 6 and 12 yr, 20 normal‐weight children, 18 overweight, and 29 obese subjects, were studied. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and fat mass (FM), were measured. Plasma glucose, serum insulin, lipid profile, C‐reactive protein (CRP), and leptin concentrations were quantified. Glucose and insulin concentrations 2 h post‐glucose load were determined. The Tg/HDL‐C ratio, homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA), and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) were calculated. Results: Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures (MBP), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), Tg/HDL‐C, total cholesterol/HDL‐C, LDL‐C/HDL‐C ratios, basal and 2 h postload insulin, CRP, and leptin were significantly higher and the QUICKI index were lower in the obese group. MBP, Tg/HDL‐C ratio, HOMA, CRP, and leptin levels showed a positive and significant correlation and QUICKI a negative correlation with abdominal circumference, BMI, and FM. The Tg/HDL‐C ratio correlated positively with MBP. The frequency of MS in the obese group was 69%. While Tg/HDL‐C ratio, CRP, and leptin were higher and the values of QUICKI were lower in subjects with MS, it was the Tg/HDL‐C ratio and the BMI that significantly explained the MS. Conclusions: Obesity increases the cardiovascular risk in childhood. The Tg/HDL‐C ratio could be a useful index in identifying children at risk for dyslipidemia, hypertension, and MS. |
