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.