Nitric oxide and clustering of metabolic syndrome components in pediatrics

This study was performed to determine the risk factor pattern of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in association with serum nitric oxide metabolites (NO(x)) in children and adolescents. The study included 851 children and adolescents, aged 4-19 years. The MetS was defined according to modified Adult treatment Panel III criteria. Cluster analysis was performed using principle components analysis with varimax orthogonal rotation to examine the risk factor pattern of the MetS. The prevalence of MetS was 10.8 and 10.0% in males and females, respectively. Age-and sex-adjusted odds ratio of having MetS was significantly higher in the upper quartile of NO(x) compared to the lower quartile (2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.7, p = 0.029). In the whole population, three factors were identified including blood pressure/obesity, lipid/obesity, and glucose/NO(x). Stratifying for sex, again three factors were retained; however, in males NO(x) was loaded in two factors. In conclusion, serum NO( x ) was associated and loaded with other MetS components in cluster analysis of metabolic risk factors.