Plasma pentraxin-3 levels and its role in childhood obesity—Is it anti-inflammatory? A matched group study

Objective

Obesity has been associated with chronic low-grade systemic inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) with anthropometric measurements, dietary content and physical activity level in children.

Design

A matched group study.

Patients

This study was conducted with 91 children aged 6–17 years, divided into two groups: “non-obese group” (Body Mass Index Standard Deviation Score [BMI SDS] <95th percentile) and “obese group” (BMI SDS ≥95th percentile).

Measurements

Plasma PTX-3 levels.

Results

The mean age of 91 children included in the study was 12.34 ± 2.86 years. Plasma PTX-3 levels were significantly higher in obese children (p = .028). No significant correlation was found between BMI SDS and plasma PTX-3 values, but a weak positive correlation was found when physical activity level was controlled (r = .176, p = .049). In addition, it was found that fat mass was a partial mediator of plasma PTX-3 level, and an increase in the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue negatively affected plasma PTX-3 level. Plasma PTX-3 level showed a weak positive correlation (r = .223, p = .017) with physical activity score and dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid intake, while a weak negative correlation with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. One unit increase in physical activity score or polyunsaturated fatty acid level caused 0.730 and 2.061 unit increases in plasma PTX-3 level, respectively; while one unit increase in dietary fat intake caused 0.413-unit decrease.

Conclusion

There was an indirect relationship between the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue and PTX-3 level. The results of our study suggested that plasma PTX-3 was associated with lower levels of inflammation in children.