Abstract

RAMOS-IBANEZ, Norma. Intra-abdominal adipose tissue: growth, assessment and association with the development of metabolic alterations in children and adolescents. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2009, vol.66, n.6, pp.492-501. ISSN 1665-1146.

The aim of the present review is to demonstrate the increase of intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) during growth and development and to describe methods to assess IAAT and the possible association with the development of metabolic alterations during childhood and adolescence. IAAT is characterized to have a high lipolytic activity and adipocytokine secretion that favor the development of insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension. IAAT naturally increases during growth in childhood; however, there is a wide variation in the amount of IAAT between children and adolescents. Magnetic resonance imaging and computerized axial tomography (CAT) are the most accurate methods to assess IAAT, but the cost of these methods limits their use at the population level. It is not recommended to use CAT to assess IAAT in healthy children due to radiation exposure. Currently, alternative methods have not been established to accurately assess this tissue. IAAT presents a positive association with blood pressure, insulin concentration, triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins (LDL), a decrease in the size of LDL particles, and a negative association with the concentrations of high-density lipoproteins.

Keywords : intra-abdominal adipose tissue; adipocytokines; insulin resistance; dyslipidemia; hypertension.

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