ESPE Abstracts

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder. The pathogenesis of this disease has not been clarified so far. It is hypothesized that visceral hypersensitivity observed in IBS is associated with the activation of immune system and development of low-grade inflammation in the intestinal mucosa. Previous studies have shown that hormonal function of adipose tissue in inflammatory bowel disease is disturbed. However, there is only a few reports on serum adipokine concentrations in IBS. Therefore, the aim of this study is: 1) assessment of serum concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, chemerin and omentin-1 in children with IBS and healthy and 2) evaluation of relationships between adipokines and anthropometric as well as metabolic parameters.

Material and methods: The study group comprised 33 IBS patients (11 girls, 22 boys) aged 5-17 years. The control group consisted of 30 healthy children (11 girls, 19 boys) at comparable age. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference), analysis of body composition using bioimpedance and biochemical tests (C-reactive protein, transaminase levels, fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, blood lipid profile) were performed in all examined subjects. Adipokines serum concentrations were determined using commercially available ELISA kits.

Results: The values of anthropometric measurements were similar in both groups. In children with IBS serum triglycerides, HOMA-IR and chemerin concentrations are higher, but HDL cholesterol and omentin-1 – lower than in healthy subjects. Leptin and adiponectin did not differ significantly between the groups. Significant correlations between serum adipokines and the values of anthropometric parameters, some metabolic parameters and serum C-reactive protein concentrations were observed. The analysis of ROC curves showed that serum chemerin is characterized by 30% sensitivity and 87% specificity in differentiating children with IBS from healthy and for omentin-1 these values were 60% and 80%, respectively.

Conclusions: 1) in children with IBS serum chemerin and omentin-1 concentrations show significant differences in comparison to healthy subjects; 2) the observed changes may result from development of low-grade inflammation; 3) serum chemerin and omentin-1 concentrations can be used as IBS biomarkers of good specificity and moderate sensitivity; 4) in children with IBS serum concentrations of the examined adipokines are closely related to their nutritional status, and in the case of chemerin and omentin-1 also with insulin resistance; 5) elevated serum chemerin levels and reduced omentin-1 concentrations may contribute to the development of lipid disorders in children with IBS.