Abstract
Objective
To study the serum Homocysteine levels in children and its relation with body mass index (BMI), lipid profile and plasma glucose.
Methods
138 children (age 5–15 y) were enrolled and categorized into normal, overweight and obese group. Blood homocysteine, lipid profile and plasma glucose were estimated.
Results
Out of 138 children, 46 (33%) were normal, 40 (29%) were overweight and 52 (38%) were obese. Hyper-homocysteinemia was found in 34 (24.6%) of children. None of the normal children had hyperhomocysteinemia in contrast to 15 (37.5%) in overweight and 19 (36.5%) in obese group (P=0.001).The median homocysteine levels in obese and overweight children was significantly higher compared to normal children (P=0.001).There was a positive correlation between BMI and homocysteine levels. There was no significant correlation between lipid profile and plasma glucose with homocysteine levels.
Conclusions
Serum homocysteine levels are significantly higher in both overweight and obese children compared to normal children.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Jagadesan S, Harish R, Miranda P, Unnikrishnan R, Anjana RM, Mohan V, et al. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among school children and adolescents in Chennai. Indian Pediatr. 2014;51:544–9.
Papandreou D, Mavromichalis I, Makedou A, Rousso I, Arvanitidou M. Total serum homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in a Greek school age population. Clin Nutr. 2006;25:797–802.
Huemer M, Vonblon K, Fodinger M, Krumpholz R, Hubmann M, Ulmer H, et al. Total homocysteine, folate, and cobalamine, and their relation to genetic polymorphisms, lifestyle and body mass index in healthy children and adolescents. Pediatr Res. 2006;60:764–9.
Osganian SK, Stampfer MJ, Speigelman D, Rimm E, Cutler JA, Feldman HA, et al. Distribution of and factors associated with serum homocysteine levels in children. JAMA. 1999;281:1189–96.
Greenlund KJ, Srinivasan SR, Xu J, Dalteres E Jr, Myers L, Pickoff A, et al. Plasma homocysteine distribution and its association with parental history of coronary artery disease in black and white children. The Bogalusa Heart Study. Circulation. 1999;99:2144–9.
Abaci A, Akelma AZ, Ozdemir O, Hizli S, Razi CH, Akin KO. Relation of total homocysteine level with metabolic and anthropometric variables in obese children and adolescents. Turk J Med Sci. 2012;42:69–76.
Kandil ME, Anwar GM, Fatouh A, Salama N, Ahmed A, Elabd E, et al. Relation between serum homocysteine and carotid intima-media thickness in obese egyptian children. J Clin Basic Cardiol. 2010;13:8–11.
Brasileiro RS, Escrivao MA, Taddei JA, D’Almeida V, AnconaLopez F, Carvalhaes JT. Plasma total homocysteine in Brazilian overweight and nonoverweight adolescents: A case-control study. Nutr Hosp. 2005;20:313–9.
Papandreou D, Rousso I, Makedou A, Arvanitidou M, Mavromichalis I. Association of blood pressure, obesity and serum homocysteine levels in healthy children. Acta Paediatr. 2007;96:1819–23.
Anand P, Awasthi S, Mahdi A, Tiwari M, Agarwal GG. Serum homocysteine in Indian adolescents. Indian J Pediatr. 2009;76:705–9.
Chambers JC, Obeid OA, Refsum H, Ueland P, Hackett D, Hooper J, et al. Plasma homocysteine concentrations and risk of coronary heart disease in UK Indian Asian and European men. Lancet. 2000;355:523–7.
Shen MH, Chu NF, Wu DM, Chang JB. Plasma homocyst(e)ine, folate and vitamin B(12) levels among school children in Taiwan: The Taipei Children Heart Study. Clin Biochem. 2002;35:495–8.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jagadish Kumar, K., Saldanha, K., Sushma, K. et al. A prospective study of homocysteine and its relation to body mass index and lipid profile in school children. Indian Pediatr 54, 935–937 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-017-1185-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-017-1185-0