Metabolic syndrome in obese adolescents is associated with risk for nephrolithiasis.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between urinary pH and metabolic syndrome risk factors along with insulin resistance in obese adolescents, and to evaluate the relationship between other urinary stone-forming and -inhibiting markers and metabolic syndrome.

METHODS

A total of 46 obese adolescents were enrolled. Twenty-four hour and randomly obtained urine samples were analyzed for urinary pH, promoters of stone formation (ie, uric acid, oxalate, and relative saturation ratio of calcium oxalate [RSR-CaOx]), and inhibitors of stone formation (ie, citrate and osteopontin). Other data collected included height, weight, blood pressure, and fasting lipid, insulin, and glucose levels.

RESULTS

The subjects had a mean age of 14.6±2.0 years and a mean body mass index of 36±6.3 kg/m(2). Random urine pH and the number of risk factors for metabolic syndrome were negatively correlated (r=-0.34; P=.02). RSR-CaOx was correlated with both homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance score (r=0.38; P<.01) and number of risk factors for metabolic syndrome (r=0.47; P=.001)

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased urinary pH and increased RSR-CaOx are associated with risk factors for metabolic syndrome in obese adolescents.