Impact of weight loss on markers of systemic inflammation in obese Saudi children with asthma

Abstract

Background: Weight loss studies were conducted in children without asthma have demonstrated a reduction in systemic inflammation. However, the impact of weight loss in the obese paediatric population with asthma has not been investigated.
Objective: To measure the effects of weight loss on markers of systemic inflammation in obese children with bronchial asthma.
Methods: Eighty obese children with bronchial asthma (42 boys, and 38 girls) with mean age 13.86± 3.21 years were divided into two equal groups. The training group received diet regimen, exercise training in addition to the medical treatment for two months, where the control group received the medical treatment only.
Results: There was a 17.5% , 15.5% , 22.4% , 14.1% and 15.9%  reduction in mean values of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), Leptin and body mass index (BMI) respectively and 38.7 % increase in mean values of adiponectin in the training group. While, there was a 0.7% , 9.0% , 2.8% , 1.6% and 1.2% increase in mean values of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, Leptin and BMI respectively and 3.9% decrease in mean values of adiponectin in the
control group. The mean values of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, Leptin and BMI was decreased and adiponectin was increased significantly in the training group, however the results of the control group were not significant. Also, there were significant differences between both groups at the end of the study.
Conclusion: Weight loss improves markers of systemic inflammation in obese Saudi children with bronchial asthma.

Key words: obesity, asthma, weight loss, cytokines.