Metabolic Syndrome in Children

Lee, Soon Ju

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity and overweight among children and adolescents has increased during the past decade. Obesity during the children and adolescents constitutes the major components of metabolic syndrome (MS) and is considered as a significant independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. The MS is a grouping of clinical characteristics including insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, impaired glucose tolerance. elevated blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol). Other common manifestations include systemic inflammation and a prothrombotic state. Studies suggest that a substantial percentage of overweight children and adolescents may be affiliated the metabolic syndrome because many have 1 or more of the following: an elevated triglyceride level, a low HDL-cholesterol level, and high blood pressure. Many overweight children also have elevated insulin levels. So, clinicians should assess overweight children for manifestations of the MS. The metabolic and cardiovascular consequences of the MS are well demonstrated and have a major impact on the development of atherosclerosis and lifetime cardiovascular risk. Despite the degree to which the MS has been established, it is not without controversy in point of several definitions, physiologic accuracy, and its value as risk factor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This review will summarize recent data about the metabolic syndrome in the pediatric age group.