Objective: To examine cholinesterase activities in children from three towns in Yucatan, Mexico and their relationship with anthropometry.
Methods: Plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase activities were measured in 104 children from Ticul, Merida and Progreso. Differences between
gender, sampling sites and body mass index (BMI) group were evaluated. Weight, height, BMI, hip and waist circumferences were correlated with
cholinesterase activities.
Results: Significant differences in the waist circumference and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity were found among sites. Children from Ticul
presented higher BChE activity compared to children from the other towns. Children from Progreso had a smaller hip circumference compared
with children from the other two locations. There was a high prevalence of overweight and obese children (40.3%). The results indicated that obese
children had higher BChE activity respect to healthy weight children. As expected, there were also significant waist and hip circumference differences
for BMI groups. The results demonstrated a positive significant correlation between BChE activity and weight, waist and hip circumference.
Conclusions: These results support the hypothesized role of BChE in lipid metabolism. Because of the high prevalence of obese children in Mexico,
BChE activity may be used as a biomarker in combination with anthropometry to monitor obesity.