Correlation of Childhood Obesity and Related Insulin Resistance with Leptin and Retinol Binding Protein 4.

OBJECTIVES

To study the correlation of obesity with various metabolic parameters and correlation between insulin resistance and leptin and retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels.

METHODS

This is a cross sectional study in a tertiary care children's hospital wherein 98 obese children were included and their metabolic parameters analysed with regards to insulin resistance and RBP4 levels.

RESULTS

Leptin levels were abnormal for all children and high RBP4 levels were observed in 69.6 %. There was no significant association between insulin resistance and RBP4 levels (p 0.8).

CONCLUSIONS

RBP4, the sole retinol transporter in blood, secreted from adipocytes and liver has been implicated in insulin resistance. The index study however, did not show a significant positive association.