Fasting Plasma Glucose and Clustering of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Normoglycemic Outpatient Children and Adolescents

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether fasting plasma glucose (FPG) within a normoglycemic range is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF) among children and adolescents in an outpatient setting. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Subjects (780; age 6-16 years) with FPG <100 mg/dL were divided into tertiles of FPG. RESULTS BMI, waist circumference, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance, systolic blood pressure, and white blood cell (WBC) count (P < 0.0001) increased across tertiles of FPG. Subjects with high-normal FPG (89-99 mg/dL) showed a higher risk of insulin resistance, hypertension, and high WBC count compared with subjects with low-normal FPG, independent of BMI z score. CONCLUSIONS In outpatient children and adolescents, higher FPG within the normal range is associated with several CMRF, independent of obesity. Thus the simple measurement of FPG may help identify subjects who warrant some monitoring in relation to cardiovascular risk.