scholarly journals Fetuin-A and Its Relation to Metabolic Syndrome and Fatty Liver Disease in Obese Children Before and After Weight Loss

2008 ◽  
Vol 93 (11) ◽  
pp. 4479-4485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Reinehr ◽  
Christian L. Roth

Context: There are very limited data available concerning the relationships between fetuin-A, weight status, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and features of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in obese humans, and especially in children. Objective: Our objective was to study the longitudinal relationships between fetuin-A, NAFLD, and MetS in obese children. Design: This was a 1-yr longitudinal follow-up study. Setting: This study was performed in primary care. Patients: A total of 36 obese and 14 lean children was included in the study. Intervention: An outpatient 1-yr intervention program based on exercise, behavior, and nutrition therapy was performed. Main Outcome Measures: Changes of weight status (sd score-body mass index), waist circumference, fetuin-A, blood pressure, lipids, transaminases, insulin resistance index homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), and prevalence of NAFLD (defined by liver ultrasound) were calculated. Results: The 12 obese children with NAFLD had significantly higher fetuin-A levels (0.35 ± 0.07 g/liter) than the 24 obese children without NAFLD (0.29 ± 0.06 g/liter) and the 14 normal weight children (0.29 ± 0.05 g/liter). Fetuin-A levels were independent of age, pubertal stage, and gender. Fetuin-A correlated significantly to systolic (r = 0.50) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.41), insulin resistance index HOMA (r = 0.28), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (r = −0.31). Changes of fetuin-A correlated significantly to changes of insulin resistance index HOMA (r = 0.34), systolic (r = 0.31) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.37), and waist circumferences (r = 0.36). Substantial weight loss in 21 children led to a significant decrease of fetuin-A and the prevalence of NAFLD in contrast to the 15 children without substantial weight loss. Conclusions: Fetuin-A levels were higher in children with NAFLD, and were related to insulin resistance and to features of the MetS in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Therefore, fetuin-A might be a new promising link between obesity and its comorbidities.

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 1020-1030
Author(s):  
Thomas Reinehr ◽  
Alberto Sánchez-Guijo ◽  
Nina Lass ◽  
Stefan A Wudy

Objective Little information is available on the steroid sulfates profile in obese children. Therefore, we examined whether sulfated steroids are linked with weight status and associated comorbidities in obese children. Methods We analyzed 66 obese children (mean age 10.5 ± 2.5 years, 57.6% female, 53.9% prepubertal, mean BMI 27.0 ± 4.6 kg/m2, 50% with BMI-SDS reduction >0.5, 50% without BMI-SDS reduction) who participated in an outpatient 1-year intervention program based on exercise, behavior and nutrition therapy. We measured intact sulfated steroids (cholesterol sulfate (CS), pregnenolone sulfate (PregS), 17αOH pregnenolone sulfate (17OH-PregS), 16αOH dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (16OH-DHEAS), DHEAS, androstenediol-3-sulfate, androsterone sulfate and epiandrosterone sulfate) by LC–MS/MS, and insulin resistance index HOMA, lipids, blood pressure at baseline and 1 year later. Results All sulfated steroids except 17OH-PregS, 16OH-DHEAS, androsterone sulfate and epiandrosterone sulfate were higher in boys compared to girls. Concentrations of CS before intervention were higher in children who lost weight. After 1 year of treatment, both groups showed increased levels of DHEAS, 16OH-DHEAS and androstenediol-3-sulfate, but PregS was only increased in children with weight loss. None of the steroid sulfates was significantly related to cardiovascular risk factors or HOMA except 17OH-PregS, which was associated with systolic blood pressure both in cross-sectional (β-coefficient: 0.09 ± 0.07, P = 0.020) and longitudinal analyses (β-coefficient: 0.06 ± 0.04, P = 0.013) in multiple linear regression analyses. Conclusions Since higher steroid sulfation capacity was associated with successful weight intervention in children disruption of sulfation may be associated with difficulties to lose weight. Future studies are necessary to prove this hypothesis.


2008 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 2287-2293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Reinehr ◽  
Birgit Stoffel-Wagner ◽  
Christian L. Roth

Abstract Context: There are limited and controversial data concerning the relationships between retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), weight status, and insulin resistance in obese humans and especially in children. Objective: Our objective was to study the longitudinal relationships among RBP4, insulin resistance and weight status in obese children. Design, Setting, and Patients: We conducted a 1-yr longitudinal follow-up study in a primary-care setting with 43 obese children (median age 10.8 yr) and 19 lean children of same the age and gender. Intervention: Our outpatient 1-yr intervention program was based on exercise, behavior, and nutrition therapy. Main Outcomes Measures: Changes of weight status (body mass index sd score), RBP4, molar RBP4/serum retinol (SR) ratio, insulin resistance index homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI). Results: Obese children had significantly (P < 0.01) higher RBP4 concentrations and a higher RBP4/SR ratio compared with lean children. In multiple linear regression analyses adjusted to age, gender, and pubertal stage, RBP4 was significantly correlated to insulin and body mass index. Pubertal children demonstrated significantly decreased QUICKI and significantly increased HOMA index, insulin, and RBP4 concentrations compared with prepubertal children. Changes of RBP4 correlated significantly to changes of insulin (r = 0.29), HOMA index (r = 0.29), QUICKI (r = 0.22), and weight status (r = 0.31). Substantial weight loss in 25 children led to a significant (P < 0.001) decrease of RBP4, RBP4/SR, blood pressure, triglycerides, insulin, and HOMA index and an increase in QUICKI in contrast to the 18 children without substantial weight loss. Conclusion: RBP4 levels were related to weight status and insulin resistance in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, suggesting a relationship between RBP4, obesity, and insulin resistance in children.


2009 ◽  
Vol 160 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Pacifico ◽  
Vito Cantisani ◽  
Caterina Anania ◽  
Elisabetta Bonaiuto ◽  
Francesco Martino ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThe association between hyperuricemia, metabolic syndrome (MS), and atherosclerotic vascular disease has been reported in adults, but very little is known about this association in children. The aims of our study were to ascertain the correlates of uric acid (UA) in a sample of obese children, and to investigate whether UA is associated with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) independently from classical risk factors including MS.MethodsWe analyzed carotid IMT along with serum triglycerides, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance index (as homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance), alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltransferase, creatinine, and UA in 120 obese children and 50 healthy control children.ResultsUA concentrations were significantly higher in obese children compared with controls; moreover, they correlated with the most established cardiovascular risk factors. In the group of obese children, after adjustment for age, sex, pubertal stage, and creatinine, an independent association between UA levels and the presence of MS syndrome was observed (unstandardized coefficient, 0.044 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.015–0.072); P<0.01). Carotid IMT significantly increased in the fourth quartile of UA compared with that in the first, second, and third quartile (0.49 (0.46–0.53), 0.53 (0.49–0.56), and 0.55 (0.52–0.59) vs 0.61 (95% CI, 0.58–0.64); P<0.01). When multivariate analysis was performed after adjusting for age, gender, pubertal stage, creatinine, and MS (considered as a single clinical entity), or the individual components of MS simultaneously included, the association between UA and carotid IMT was significant (P<0.01).ConclusionsIn obese children and adolescents, increased UA levels are associated with carotid atherosclerosis.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Papandreou ◽  
Mirey Karavetian ◽  
Zacharoula Karabouta ◽  
Eleni Andreou

Background. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MS) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese children. One hundred and twenty-five subjects aged 11-12 years old participated in the study.Methods. Anthropometric and biochemical indices were measured, including lipid and liver profile, blood glucose, serum insulin, and liver ultrasound.Results. Forty-four children (58.6%) were found to have MS. Insulin resistance was present in 78 (62.4%) children. Patients with MS were more likely to have NAFLD (P<0.001). Children with NAFLD had significantly higher body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides, fasting insulin, and lower high-density lipoprotein compared to patients with normal livers (P<0.001). Insulin resistance was significantly higher in children with NAFLD (P<0.001). Obese children presenting with MS were 3.01 (2.87–3.57,P<0.002) times more likely to develop NAFLD compared to those without metabolic syndrome after adjustment of cofounders.Conclusions. Obese children with MS have a higher risk of developing NAFLD. Weight management and early prevention should be the first line of treatment to prevent any possible health issues later on.


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