Abstract
Background: Increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), a marker of early-onset atherosclerosis, has been observed in obese adolescents. Recently the viral infection increased interest in obesity-related studies, especially adenovirus 36.
Aim: To investigate the relationship between CIMT, visceral obesity and adenovirus 36 infection in female adolescents. Study Design: A cross-sectional study included 90 females aged 12-15 years. Anthropometric assessment was done. Visceral obesity was measured by abdominal ultrasound. CIMT for both carotid arteries were measured by high-resolution echo-Doppler. Qualitative Human adenovirus 36 antibody was assessed using ELISA.
Results: Girls with visceral obesity had higher frequency of increased CIMT at left (96.2% versus75%) and right carotid artery (84.6% versus 73.4%), and adenovirus 36 sero-positive antibodies than among those without visceral obesity p>0.01.Visceral obesity; among total sample; had significant positive correlations with BMI, waist and hip circumference. While it had insignificant correlations with age, CIMT at both right and left carotid arteries and adenovirus 36.
Conclusions: The frequency of increased CIMT at left carotid artery was higher among girls with visceral obesity than among those without visceral obesity. Visceral obesity, CIMT at right & left carotid arteries, and Adenovirus-36 had insignificant correlations with both.