Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2010 Mar;20(1):48-58.

Asthma Development Partially Linked to Adiponectin and Leptin in Overweight Children

• Baek HS
• Kim YD
• Park YS
• Shin JH
• Oh JW
• Lee HB

Abstract

PURPOSE
The prevalence of asthma and obesity is increasing concomitantly, but the link between asthma and obesity is unclear. We sought to address possible roles of leptin and adiponectin in the development of asthma, and changes in pulmonary function in overweight children.
METHODS
Four study groups of 61 children aged 6 to 18 years (mean age, 9.69+/-2.16) were enrolled: (1) 14 mild-to-moderate asthmatics with overweight, (2) 16 mild-to-moderate asthmatics with normal weight, (3) 16 obese subjects without asthma, and (4) 15 healthy controls. We measured biomarkers in blood, including total and allergen-specific IgE, eosinophil, eosinophilc cationic protein (ECP), leptin, adiponectin, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), lipid profiles, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGF-BP3). Body mass index (BMI), antioxidants and micronutrients in a daily diet were evaluated by the questionnaire. We performed the bronchial challenge test by methacholine inhalation and free running, respectively.
RESULTS
The leptin levels was apparently high, and the adiponectin level was low in the over-weight children, as depicting a significant inverse correlation between the 2 variables (R=-0.479; P<0.001). The FEV(1)/FVC ratio was low in the overweight children regardless of the presence of asthma. However, the effect of IL-6, TNF-alpha, nutrients, and other variables on asthma development in the overweight children with asthma was not verified.
CONCLUSION
In this study, the levels of leptin, adiponectin or other obesity-related biomarkers were not independently associated with asthma. Therefore, it is concluded that obesity may not be an important factor in pulmonary function impairment.

Keyword

Asthma; Overweight; Child; Leptin; Adiponectin

MeSH Terms

Adiponectin
Aged
Aluminum Hydroxide
Antioxidants
Asthma
Biomarkers
Body Mass Index
Bronchial Provocation Tests
Carbonates
Child
Diet
Eosinophils
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Inhalation
Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3
Interleukin-6
Interleukins
Leptin
Methacholine Chloride
Micronutrients
Obesity
Overweight
Prevalence
Surveys and Questionnaires
Running
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Adiponectin
Aluminum Hydroxide
Antioxidants
Carbonates
Immunoglobulin E
Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3
Interleukin-6
Interleukins
Leptin
Methacholine Chloride
Micronutrients
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha