Measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is a direct and non-invasive method to evaluate and detect preclinical atherosclerosis. Adipose tissue is recognised as an endocrine tissue able to induce antiatherogenic, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects, and while obese children have shown significantly increased cIMT, studies in lean children are lacking. Both obese and lean children have shown pro-atherosclerotic alterations in previous studies, but this study by Giannini et al. is the first to compare the negative effects of both high and low adipose tissue on the carotid arterial wall.

The study used 80 healthy pre-pubertal lean and obese children and 40 matched controls to determine whether the degree of adipose tissue storage is associated with markers of early atherosclerosis. The children were evaluated for anthropometric measurements, oxidant and antioxidant status, inflammatory markers, insulin sensitivity and cIMt by ultrasound.

In comparison to controls, cIMT was increased in lean and obese subjects, with no differences between these two groups. The study concluded that pre-pubertal lean and obese children show increased oxidative stress and impaired inflammation and insulin sensitivity, meaning that early signs of atherosclerosis can be seen even at this young age. Giannini, C., de Giorgis,T., Scarinci, A., Cataldo, I., Marcovecchio, M.L., Chiarelli, F., Mohn, A. European Journal of Endocrinology 2009, 161: 73-80 DOI: 10.1530/EJE-09-0042