Effect of Visfatin Level and Other Biochemical Parameters in Iraqi Children and Adolescents with Obesity

In this study, the aim was to evaluate visfatin level in Iraqi children and adolescents with obesity, as well as to study the association of serum visfatin level with different biochemical variables. Ninety participants were included. Participants’ ages ranged between (5 and 18) years. Sixty obese children and adolescents (obese group) compared to thirty children and adolescents (control group). Serum visfatin concentrations have been measured by ELISA. Results: There was a highly significant increase in serum visfatin levels in obese group compare to control group. In addition, there was a highly significant increase in serum visfatin level in obese adolescents in comparison with obese children. A significant positive association was seen between serum visfatin level verses weight, waist circumference, HOMA-IR and LDL-C in both obese children and obese adolescents. Moreover, positive correlations were detected between serum visfatin level verses FBS and TG in both obese children and obese adolescents. Conclusion: serum levels of visfatin are elevated in obese group. These findings suggest that visfatin may possibly play a role in the pathophysiology of obesity in children, who are at risk for a broad range of future diseases, such as type II diabetes and heart disease.