J Korean Med Sci.  2011 Jun;26(6):797-802. 10.3346/jkms.2011.26.6.797.

Association of Serum Retinol Binding Protein 4 with Adiposity and Pubertal Development in Korean Children and Adolescents

• Rhie YJ
• Choi BM
• Eun SH
• Son CS
• Park SH
• Lee KH

• KMID: 1785967
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2011.26.6.797

Abstract

Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) has been postulated to provide a new link between obesity and insulin resistance. We aimed to assess the relationship between serum RBP4 and insulin resistance by investigating serum RBP4 levels in children and adolescents according to degree of obesity and pubertal stage. A total of 103 (30 lean, 39 overweight, 34 obese) were evaluated for serum RBP4, adiponectin, insulin, glucose and lipid profiles. RBP4 levels of obese and overweight groups were higher than those of lean group. RBP4 level was higher in pubertal group than in prepubertal group. RBP4 was positively correlated with age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol and triglyceride, and inversely with adiponectin. In the multiple linear regression analysis, RBP4 was found to be independently associated with pubertal stage, BMI and triglyceride but not with HOMA-IR. In conclusion, serum RBP4 level is related with degree of adiposity and pubertal development. The association of RBP4 with insulin resistance is supposed to be secondary to the relation between RBP4 and adipose tissue in children and adolescents.

Keyword

RBP4 protein, Human; Childhood Obesity; Insulin Resistance; Adipose Tissue

MeSH Terms

Adiponectin/blood
*Adiposity
Adolescent
Age Factors
Blood Glucose/analysis
Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
Child
Cholesterol/blood
Female
Humans
Insulin/blood
Insulin Resistance
Male
Obesity/*blood/metabolism/physiopathology
Puberty/*blood/metabolism/physiology
Republic of Korea
Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma/*metabolism
Sex Factors
Triglycerides/blood
Waist Circumference

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Serum retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and obesity in children and adolescents. Serum RBP4 levels of obese and overweight groups were compared with those of lean group according to pubertal stage. Serum RBP4 levels of obese and overweight groups were higher than those of lean group and this tendency was observed regardless of pubertal stage. Data are mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM).

• 

  Fig. 2 Serum retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and puberty in children and adolescents. Serum RBP4 levels of puberty group were compared with those of prepuberty group according to degree of obesity. Compared with prepuberty group, serum RBP4 levels were higher in puberty group and this tendency was observed regardless of degree of obesity. Data are mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM).

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