Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaulate serum C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6),
and neopterin levels with lipoprotein phospholipase A
2 (Lp-PLA
2) activity in obese adolescents with or
without insulin resistance, and to demonstrate their relationships with insulin resistance.
Materials and Methods: The study involved 65 pubertal obese adolescents with a body mass index
(BMI) greater or equal to 95th percentile according to age and gender. In venous blood samples,
glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C),
apolipoprotein AI (Apo A), apolipoprotein B100 (Apo B), CRP, IL- 6 and neopterin levels, and Lp-PLA2
activities and in whloe blood glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were determined. According to the
presence of insulin resistance the study group was divided into two groups. The results were
expressed as median (min-max). P <0.05 was accepted for statistical significance.
Results: There was no difference between groups with or without insulin resistance in terms of total
cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, LDL-C, Apo A, Apo B, CRP and IL- 6 levels. Neopterin levels were not
different between the two groups, but Lp-PLA2 activity was significantly higher in the insulin resistant
group than the other group (p=0.003). Significant positive correlations between; HOMA-IR and Lp-PLA2
(rho=0.420, p=0.001), HOMA-IR and BMI (r=0.419, p=0.001) were obtained. Lp-PLA2 correlated
inversely both with HDL-C and Apo A (r= - 0.259, p=0.03; r= - 0.362, p=0.001, respectively).
Conclusion: In this study we demonstrated that in obese adolescents with similar lipid profile and
systemic inflammatory status, insulin resistance is associated with Lp-PLA2 activity, a marker of
vascular inflammation. Our results support the arguments in the favor of early start of atherosclerotic
vascular changes in insulin resistant subjects with respect to non-insulin resistant ones.