The Level of Inflammatory Markers and Their Relationship with Fat Tissue Distribution in Children with Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the changes in proinflammatory and anti-inflam- matory markers in children aged 10-18, who were not diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mel- litus, were obese/overweight, and children with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, we aimed to investigate whether these markers were associated with clinical and laboratory parame- ters, subcutaneous adipose tissue, preperitoneal adipose tissue, visceral adipose tissue, and hepatosteatosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children between the ages of 10 and 18, obese/overweight, with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and with a normal body mass index were included. Fat tissue thick- ness was measured. Tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interleukin-18, and interferon-γ as proinflammatory markers and transforming growth factor-β and interleukin-10 levels as anti-inflammatory markers were studied.

RESULTS: Twenty-eight (31.8%) controls, 44 (50%) obese/overweight, and 16 (18.2%) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in our study. Age, sex, and puberty were similar between the groups. In the type 2 diabetes mellitus group, the subcutaneous fat tissue thick- ness was higher than that in the obese group, and the preperitoneal and visceral fat tissue thicknesses were similar to those in the obese group. Proinflammatory markers and interleu- kin-10 levels were similar in the obese/overweight, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and control groups. Transforming growth factor-β levels were significantly lower in the type 2 diabetes mellitus group than in the control group (P = .039). Transforming growth factor-β levels and other labo- ratory variables did not differ significantly in the type 2 diabetes mellitus group.

CONCLUSION: While there was no change in all markers in the obese/overweight group com- pared with the control group, proinflammatory markers in the type 2 diabetes mellitus group were similar to those in the obese/overweight and control groups, and transforming growth factor-β level, an anti-inflammatory marker, was lower in the type 2 diabetes mellitus group than in the control group.