The association between metabolic components and markers of inflammatory and endothelial dysfunction in adolescents, based on the Ewha Birth and Growth Cohort Study

Abstract

We assessed the association between metabolic health and markers of inflammation and of endothelial dysfunction using data from the Ewha Birth and Growth Cohort Study. The data of 195 subjects aged 13-15 years were analyzed. To assess metabolic syndrome, continuous metabolic syndrome (cMets) scores were calculated. We measured the levels of highsensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) as markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. An increase of one SD in the cMets score resulted in a 1.25-fold (95% CI 1.10-1.42) increase in the risk of acute inflammatory status and a 1.26-fold (95% CI 1.11-1.43) increase in the risk of endothelial dysfunction as defined by ICAM-1, while VCAM-1 showed a meaningless trend. Of the metabolic components, body mass index (BMI) was positively associated with elevated hs-CRP levels and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) levels were negatively associated with elevated ICAM-1 levels. Additionally, a mediation analysis showed that a high BMI was directly related to elevated hs-CRP levels and indirectly related to elevated ICAM-1 levels via HDL-c. Our findings show that poor metabolic health was related to an unfavorable inflammatory status and endothelial dysfunction in adolescents.

VCAM-1 Values in Obese Adolescents with Dyslipidemia and Insulin Resistance

“…However, there was an indirect correlation between BMI and ICAM-1 values through HDL (Hye Ah Lee et al, 2020) [21]. This study demonstrated a correlation between increased inflammation and ICAM-1 values [21]. It suggested that endothelial dysfunction may result from chronic inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome [21].…”

“…There was also no correlation between BMI and VCAM-1 values, in addition to the absence of direct correlation between BMI and ICAM-1 values in a study conducted in children with metabolic syndrome [21]. However, there was an indirect correlation between BMI and ICAM-1 values through HDL (Hye Ah Lee et al, 2020) [21].…”

Impaired metabolic health over‐time and high abdominal fat are prospectively associated with high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein in children: The IDEFICS study

“…49 Previous findings in adolescents showed that poor metabolic health was related to an unfavourable inflammatory status and endothelial dysfunction. 23 In addition, it has been observed among European adolescents that metabolic health is associated with high concentrations of hsCRP. 50 However, there are no previous studies assessing the association between metabolic status over time and inflammation during childhood.…”

“…In addition, previous findings showed that poor metabolic health was associated with inflammatory status and endothelial dysfunction already in adolescence. 23 However, there is a lack of previous literature available on this association in children.…”

Cohort profile: the Ewha Birth and Growth Study

“…Recently, we started reporting on adolescent health-related research topics. A mediation analysis implied that, among the metabolic syndrome components, body mass index was directly related to elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels and indirectly via HDL-c to elevated intercellular adhesion molecule 1 levels [ 33 ]. The data collected were from young people, and further results are therefore expected to be published.…”