Abstract

MIELDAZIS, Stephanye Felicye Armecy et al. Hyperinsulinism assessment in a sample of prepubescent children. J. Pediatr. (Rio J.) [online]. 2010, vol.86, n.3, pp. 245-249. ISSN 0021-7557.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0021-75572010000300014.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment - insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and insulinemia. METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional observational study of 132 prepubescent schoolchildren residents in the municipality of Santo André, Brazil. Children underwent anthropometric assessment, their glycemia and insulinemia were measured and their HOMA-IR index calculated. RESULTS: Seventy-eight of the 132 children (59.1%) were girls and 54 were boys (40.9%), with a mean age of 8.7 years and mean BMI of 13.7 kg/m². A significant positive association was detected between HOMA-IR and BMI, insulin and BMI, weight and HOMA and between insulin and weight. It was also found that the higher the BMI, the greater the HOMA score. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study allow for the conclusion that there is a strong association between hyperinsulinism and obesity. Measures should be taken to avoid weight gain during childhood and adolescence.

Keywords : Blood samples; hyperinsulinism; glucose.