Insulin is an independent correlate of plasma homocysteine levels in obese children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE - The aim of the study was to investigate whether anthropometric and metabolic risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) contribute to the variation in homocysteine Levels in obese children and adolescents. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A total of 84 children and adolescents were assessed for fasting total homocysteine, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism (C677T mutation), folate and vitamin B-12 status, and anthropometric and metabolic risk factors for CHD. RESULTS - No significant sex differences were found for all available anthropometric and metabolic characteristics except for homocysteine, which was significantly higher in boys than in girls (7.1 vs. 6.3 mu mol/l: P < 0.05). After adjustment for age and sex, homocysteine correlated significantly with BMI, fat mass, percentage of fat mass, and insulin and showed an inverse correlation with folate levels. Homocysteine did not correlate with vitamin Bu; total cholesterol; LDL. HDL, and VLDL; triglycerides; and glucose. BMI and fat mass correlated significantly with insulin and showed a significant inverse correlation with folate. We found no association between homocysteine and the C677T mutation. In multiple regression analyses, insulin was found to be the main correlate of homocysteine. CONCLUSIONS - Our study demonstrates for the first time that insulin is a main correlate of homocysteine in obese children and adolescents and suggests that fat mass-associated hyperinsulinism may contribute to impairment of homocysteine metabolism in childhood obesity.