Metabolic syndrome, leptin-insulin resistance and uric acid: a trinomial foe for Algerian city-dweller adolescents’ health

Abstract

Background:Adolescence is one of the critical periods where increased risk for long-term obesity-related com-plications is an important health concern. This highlights the need to perform early diagnostics based on precisebiomarkers to decrease the risk of complications in adolescents with obesity.Objective:To determine the relationships between serum levels of uric acid (UA), leptin and insulin withmetabolic syndrome (MS) components in Algerian adolescents.Subjects:Nondiabetic adolescents (n=204).Methods:Blood pressure (BP) and anthropometric measurements were performed using standardized tech-niques. Blood samples were taken for determination of glycemia, triglyceridemia, uricemia, cholesterolemia,leptinemia and insulinemia.Results:The rate of MS among an excess weight group was 17.4% [95% confidence interval (CI)]. Serum levelsof UA, leptin and insulin were significantly higher in the excess weight group compared to a normal weightgroup (279.4±86.05 vs. 204.9±50.34μmol/L and 25.65±14.01 vs. 4.09±2.60μg/L, p<0.001; 24.58±13.85vs. 13.34±6.41μIU/L, p<0.05). Serum levels of UA, leptin and insulin were significantly higher in adoles-cents with MS compared to those without MS (304.86±111.41 vs. 224.72±77.81μmol/L, 30.26±12.46 vs.16.93±14.97μg/L and 30.91±17.30 vs. 18.71±10.14μIU/L, p<0.05, respectively). Significant correlations werefound between UA and leptin with waist circumference (r=0.50 and 0.76), diastolic blood pressure (r=0.58 and0.43), triglycerides (r=0.42 and 0.35) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (r= −0.36 and−0.35).Conclusion:Serum levels of UA and leptin may be useful biomarkers for early diagnosis of the risk of MS inour Algerian adolescent population.