Search

P1-473Background/ Aims: Hyperuricemia (HU) is a frequent findingin childhood obesity, ranging between 12 and 40%, and associatesto a variable extent with different components of the metabolicsyndrome (MS). In this study, the effect of gender, (a Belgiannative vs a non-Belgian native) descent and degree of general andcentral adiposity on serum uric acid (SUA) and the prevalence ofHU was investigated in a multi-ethnic population of overweight/obese children and adolescents living in/around Brussels, using anage and sex-specific SUA reference ranges.Methods: Fasting morning serum concentrations of uric acid,glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in 388 overweight (BMI 1.3 – 2 SDS)/obese(BMI SDS > 2) children and adolescents, entering an ambulatoryweight loss program. Routine anthropometry and blood pressuremeasurements were performed. SUA was measured by enzymaticcolorimetry. HU was defined by a SUA above the assay specific andage and gender defined reference range. MS was defined by the IDFcriteria. Insulin resistance was defined by a HOMA-IR >2.16 forprepubertal children and >3.6 for pubertal children.Results: Their median age was 10.45 years (range 6-16). Intotal, 219/388 (56.4%) were females, 67/388 (17.2%) were pubertalor postpubertal, 65/388 (16.8%) subjects had MS, while insulinresistance was present in 258/388 (66.5%) subjects. Median SUAwas 4.8 mg/dL and ranged between 0.5-9.5 mg/dL, with 80 (20.6%) children and adolescents showing an elevated SUA. Degree ofgeneral obesity (BMI Z-score) and central adiposity (waist SDS), pubertal status (prepubertal, pubertal and postpubertal), gender,descent (Belgian native and non-Belgian native origin), as well asthe presence of MS and insulin resistance were not significantlydifferent between those with and without hyperuricemia. Medianwaist-to-height ratio, serum triglycerides and insulin resistancewere significantly (respectively P=0.011, P=0.006, P=0.008) higherin Turkish children/adolescents compared to Moroccan and children of other (mainly Belgian native) descent.Conclusion: Hyperuricemia was present in one fifth of innercity living overweight/obese children, irrespective of age ethnicbackground and severity of global or central obesity. No significantassociation between HU and metabolic syndrome or its differentcomponents was found. Future studies should focus on investigating the association with diet composition, obesity duration anddegree of sedentary lifestyle and the eventual risk for cardiovascular complications.