Μελέτη λιποκυτοκινών στην παιδική παχυσαρκία

Abstract

Childhood obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges of the 21st centurywhich has doubled over the last 20 years and is now an epidemic. Obese children andadolescents, especially those with central adiposity, are more likely to developglucose intolerance, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia as well as high blood pressure,conditions that consist the metabolic syndrome. The above comorbidities have beenlinked with an increased risk for diabetes type 2 and cardiovascular disease in laterlife.Hypovitaminosis D has been associated with adult obesity, while recent data havealso shown low vitamin D concentrations in obese children and adolescents. Retinolbindingprotein-4 and lipocalin-2 are altered in obese individuals. The aim of thisstudy was to examine circulating 25-(OH) D3 concentrations in female children andadolescents, according to BMI status, and to associate 25-(OH) D3 with RBP-4 andlipocalin-2 concentrations.Seventy-nine (79) female children and adolescents, aged 8-16 years, were studied.The children were divided into four groups according to their obesity status: 19 lean(mean BMI z-score <1.24), 20 overweight (mean BMI z-score 1.92 ± 0.58), 20 obese(mean BMI z-score 2.625 ± 0.225) and 20 morbidly obese (mean BMI z-score >3).Overweight and obese children were derived from the Obesity Clinic of ourDepartment. Plasma 25-(OH) D3, RBP-4 and lipocalin-2 concentrations weremeasured with specific assays.Plasma 25-(OH) D3 concentrations were decreased significantly in the morbidlyobese (p=0.005) and marginally in the obese group (p=0.05). In the entire BMI range, Spearman correlations revealed positive associations between 25-(OH) D3 and RBP-4(r=0.349, p=0.002) and between 25-(OH) D3 and lipocalin-2 (r=0.338, p=0.003).Decreased 25-(OH) D3 concentrations are present in female obese children andadolescents. 25-(OH) D3 concentrations are associated with other markers ofchildhood obesity, such as RBP-4 and lipocalin-2. These associations may reveal newnutritional interventions in childhood and adolescent obesity.Further investigation and research of larger groups of obese young individuals, takinginto account broader parameters is therefore adamant . The aim is to reveal atimeframe and a homeostatic pattern, in which the hormonal mechanisms fail andsubsequently result in the elevation of Vitamin D and the possible compensatoryresponses of RBP4 and NGAL. These associations may reveal new nutritionalinterventions in childhood and adolescent obesity.