J Korean Soc Pediatr Endocrinol.  2003 Jun;8(1):73-80.

The Fasting Serum Glucose, Insulin and C-peptide Levels in Children with Obesity

• Byun SH
• Seo WH
• Choi BM
• Lee KH

Abstract

PURPOSE
The prevalence of childhood obesity has been increased rapidly, associated with high morbidity of dyslipidemia, cardiovascular risk factors and insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia. Hyperinsulinemia in obese children may depend on either increased insulin secretion or decreased insulin clearance. We investigate whether insulin secretion and clearance are different between obese and normal weight children.
METHODS
The body mass index(BMI), fasting serum glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels were measured in 101 children(52 obese children and 49 non-obese controls) in Ansan area, from 6 to 14 years old. Fasting serum C-peptide/insulin ratio, insulin/glucose ratio, homeostasis model assessment(HOMA) were calculated and compared between obese and control group.
RESULTS
The fasting serum insulin and C-peptide levels were significantly higher in obese group than in controls. The C-peptide/insulin ratio was significantly lower and insulin/glucose ratio was significantly higher in obese group than in controls. There were positive correlations between BMI and fasting serum insulin level, fasting insulin/glucose ratio and HOMA. The prevalence of hyperinsulinemia is higher in obese adolescents than in controls.
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that increased insulin secretion and decreased insulin clearance may contribute to hyperinsulinemia in obese children.

Keyword

Insulin; C-peptide; Obesity; Children

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Blood Glucose*
C-Peptide*
Child*
Dyslipidemias
Fasting*
Gyeonggi-do
Homeostasis
Humans
Hyperinsulinism
Insulin*
Obesity*
Pediatric Obesity
Prevalence
Risk Factors
C-Peptide
Insulin