Correlation of Serum Ferritin and Adenosine Deaminase with Body Mass Index in Children: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to correlate the levels of two markers of inflammation, serum Ferritin and adenosine deaminase (ADA), with anthropometric measurements in children. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in a total of 60 apparently healthy children (30 in each group), aged 6–14 years whose anthropometric measurements were taken and grouped as normal and obese as per body mass index (BMI), and their serum levels of ADA, Ferritin and Lipids were analyzed. Results: Serum Ferritin, ADA, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the obese compared to normal children. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly higher in obese children, though the diastolic BP was similar across the groups. There was a strong positive correlation of the SBP, serum Ferritin and ADA with BMI. Ferritin showed a statistically significant positive correlation with waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio (WHR), and triceps skinfold thickness. ADA, too, positively correlated with all anthropometric values, though it was statistically significant only with the SBP and WHR. Conclusion: Serum Ferritin and ADA, which are markers of inflammation, were elevated in obese children compared to normal children. These biochemical markers may predict non-communicable diseases than cumbersome markers like anthropometric indices in the future.