Abstract
Background: Childhood obesity has been suggested as a risk factor for bronchial asthma. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between clinical factors related to obesity, including adipocytokines and eosinophilic inflammation, as candidate pathogenesis mechanisms of bronchial asthma in Japanese children and adolescents.
Methods: Forty-one children and adolescents visiting our outpatient clinic were enrolled. The relationship between participants' clinical and demographic characteristics and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) or blood eosinophil (B-Eos) count values were analyzed.
Results: No significant correlation was observed between either FENO or B-Eos count values and the body mass index z-score. FENO was high (≥35 ppb) in 8 cases and normal (<35 ppb) in 33 cases. Adiponectin was significantly lower in the high FENO group than in the normal FENO group (6.5 vs. 8.1 μg/mL, p<0.02). A negative correlation between B-Eos count values and adiponectin levels (r=−0.34, p<0.05) and a positive correlation between B-Eos count values and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels were noted (r=0.42, p<0.01). The univariable odds ratio of adiponectin for high FENO was 0.62 (0.41-0.95) and the association was borderline after adjusting for B-Eos.
Conclusions: Eosinophilic inflammation was associated with a decrease in serum adiponectin levels which may be induced by visceral fat accumulation.
