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. 2014 Oct-Dec;12(4):420-4.
doi: 10.1590/S1679-45082014AO3214.

Relation between leukocyte count, adiposity, and cardiorespiratory fitness in pubertal adolescents

Thiago Ricardo dos Santos Tenório  1 , Breno Quintella Farah  1 , Raphael Mendes Ritti-Dias  1 , João Paulo Botero  2 , Daniel Calado Brito  1 , Patrícia Muniz Mendes Freire de Moura  1 , Wagner Luiz do Prado  2
Affiliations

Relation between leukocyte count, adiposity, and cardiorespiratory fitness in pubertal adolescents

Thiago Ricardo dos Santos Tenório et al. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2014 Oct-Dec.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To compare the total and differential leukocyte count in obese and normal-weight adolescents, and to verify their possible relations with cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity indicators.

Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted with 139 adolescents (107 obese and 32 normal weight) aged between 13 and 18 years. Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by direct gas analysis during an incremental treadmill test. Total leukocytes and subsets were estimated by flow cytometry. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The t-test for independent samples was used for comparison between groups. The relation between leukocytes, cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity indicators was verified by Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression (adjusted for age and body mass index) tests.

Results: Obese adolescents had higher leukocyte (8.12±2.36u/L x 103; p=0.001), neutrophil (4.33±1.86u/L x 103; p=0.002), and monocyte (0.70±0.22u/L x 103; p=0.002) counts compared to the levels of normal weight subjects. After the necessary adjustments, cardiorespiratory fitness had a negative association with leukocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes in boys.

Conclusion: Obese adolescents had higher total and differential leucocyte count when compared to normal weight individuals. We also observed a weak positive association between adiposity and total leukocyte, monocyte, and neutrophil counts, and in boys, a negative association between cardiorespiratory fitness and total count of leukocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils.

Objetivo: Comparar a contagem total e diferencial de leucócitos de adolescentes obesos e eutróficos, e verificar suas possíveis relações com a aptidão cardiorrespiratória e indicadores de adiposidade.

Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com 139 adolescentes (107 obesos e 32 eutróficos), com idades entre 13 e 18 anos. A aptidão cardiorrespiratória foi determinada por análise direta de gases durante um teste incremental em esteira rolante. As contagens de leucócitos totais e subconjuntos foram estimadas por citometria de fluxo. A composição corporal foi avaliada pelo método de dupla energia de raios X. O teste t para amostras independentes foi utilizado para comparação entre os grupos. A relação entre leucócitos, aptidão cardiorrespiratória e indicadores de adiposidade foi verificada por meio dos testes de correlação de Pearson e regressão linear múltipla (ajustado para idade e índice de massa corporal).

Resultados: Os adolescentes obesos apresentaram leucócitos (8,12±2,36u/L x 103; p=0,001), neutrófilos (4,33±1,86u/L x 103; p=0,002) e monócitos (0,70±0,22u/L x 103; p=0,002) mais elevados em comparação com os níveis dos eutróficos. Após os ajustes necessários, a aptidão cardiorrespiratória foi negativamente associada com leucócitos, neutrófilos e monócitos em meninos.

Conclusão: Adolescentes obesos apresentaram maior contagem de leucócitos totais e subpopulações, quando comparados aos eutróficos. Observou-se também uma fraca relação positiva entre adiposidade e leucócitos totais, monócitos e neutrófilos, e em meninos, uma relação negativa entre aptidão cardiorrespiratória e leucócitos totais, monócitos e neutrófilos.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: none.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Comparison of leukocyte and subpopulation counts in obese and eutrophic adolescents. *p<0.05
Figura 1
Figura 1. Comparação da contagem de leucócitos e subpopulações de adolescentes obesos e eutróficos. *p<0,05
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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