A randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel trial of folic acid and the improvement of endothelial dysfunction in obese children and adolescents

Worldwide obesity has increased over the last decade. Paediatric obesity is known to be an independent risk factor for adult obesity. Adolescent obesity is associated with atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is preceded by endothelial or blood vessel dysfunction that can be assessed by ultrasound. Endothelial dysfunction occurs in severely obese children. Early interventions to improve endothelial dysfunction in obesity, in addition to metabolic and weight control may potentially prevent atherosclerosis and heart disease. Folic acid has been proposed as one of the strategies to reduce atherosclerosis and hasn't been investigated in obesity.