Adropin and Apelin -12, two better predictors of metabolic syndrome in obese children

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is the most extensively described condition associated with childhood and adolescent obesity and is a challenging public health issue. Studies regarding the specificity and sensitivity of serum levels of adropin and apelin -12 as predictors of MetS are limited. The aim was to evaluate the prospective association between adropin and apelin -12 concentrations and MetS and sensitivity as predictors of MetS in the obese children. Methods This study involved 138 children. The study group included obese subjects with MetS and the two control groups included obese without MetS and normal weight subjects. Anthropometric parameters and clinical data were collected. Plasma levels of apelin -12, adropin, leptin, adiponectin and TNF-α were measured. Results Obese children with MetS had significantly higher levels of apelin -12 and significantly lower levels of adropin compared to those without MetS. In logistic regressions, we identified that apelin -12 was risk factor for metabolic syndrome and adropin was the protecting factors of having MetS after adjustment for age, sex and puberty. Furthermore, adropin and apelin -12 are two more sensitive predictors of metabolic syndrome than leptin and adiponect using ROC method. Conclusion Serum adropin and apelin -12 levels can be useful biomarkers for evaluation of the risk of MetS in obese children. This may provide a novel approach for treatment or prevention of MetS development.