Higher glucose, insulin and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in childhood predict adverse cardiovascular risk in early adulthood: the Pune Children's Study

Associations of Placental Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers with Glucolipid Metabolism in Children: A Birth Cohort Study in China

BACKGROUND

The maternal intrauterine immune environment may affect offspring long-term health. We aimed to investigate the association between the intrauterine placental immunological milieu and glycolipid metabolic health in children.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study enrolled 1803 mother-child pairs from the Ma'anshan birth cohort (2013-2014). Placental mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β [IL-1β], IL-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, C-reactive protein, and interferon-γ) and oxidative stress biomarkers (heme oxygenase-1, hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha, and glucose-related protein 78) was quantified using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol were assessed at 5 to 6 years old. Statistical analyses included multiple linear regression, binary logistic regression, restricted cubic spline model, and the Bayesian kernel machine regression model. Placental inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, C-reactive protein, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10) and oxidative stress biomarkers (heme oxygenase-1, hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha, glucose-related protein 78) showed positive associations with children's fasting blood glucose levels. Heme oxygenase-1 and glucose-related protein 78 exhibited negative correlations with children's fasting insulin levels. Elevated IL-6, heme oxygenase-1, hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha, and glucose-related protein 78 were associated with increased risk of prediabetes in children. Overall upregulation of placental proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress factors mRNA expression correlated with higher prediabetes risk in children. Bayesian kernel machine regression analysis indicated a joint positive effect of the 12 placental inflammation and oxidative stress mixtures on children's risk of high fasting blood glucose.

CONCLUSIONS

This exploratory study underscores significant correlations between maternal intrauterine placental inflammation, oxidative stress markers, and offspring fasting blood glucose and insulin levels. These findings highlight the potential role of intrauterine holistic immunity in shaping offspring glucose metabolism health.

Cardiometabolic Risk Assessment in a Cohort of Children and Adolescents Diagnosed with Hyperinsulinemia

BACKGROUND

Individuals with hyperinsulinemia may initially not meet any diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome, though displaying a higher risk of cardiovascular complications combined with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

AIM

The main objective of our study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of various cardiovascular risk indices in hyperinsulinemic children and adolescents; a secondary objective was to estimate the optimal cut-offs of these indices.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective single-center study was conducted on 139 patients aged 12.1 ± 2.9 years, managed for hyperinsulinism.

RESULTS

We found statistically significant differences in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), triglyceride glucose index (TyG), TyG-body mass index, visceral adiposity index, lipid accumulation product index, fatty liver index, and hepatic steatosis index. At the linear logistic regression assessment, we found that insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), HOMA-IR, and ALT/AST ratio were independently associated with confirmed hyperinsulinism. At the multivariate analysis, IGF-1 levels over 203 ng/mL and HOMA-IR higher than 6.2 were respectively associated with a 9- and 18-times higher odds ratio for hyperinsulinism. The other investigated parameters were not significantly related to hyperinsulinism, and could not predict either the presence of hyperinsulinemia or a subsequent cardiovascular risk in our patients.

CONCLUSION

Commonly used indices of cardiovascular risk in adults cannot be considered accurate in confirming hyperinsulinism in children, with the exception of HOMA-IR. Further studies are needed to verify the usefulness of specific cardiovascular risk indices in hyperinsulinemic children and adolescents.

High prevalence of impaired glucose metabolism among children and adolescents living with HIV in Ghana

BACKGROUND

Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-associated metabolic abnormalities, including impairment of glucose metabolism, are prevalent in adults living with HIV. However, the prevalence and pathogenesis of impaired glucose metabolism in children and adolescents living with HIV, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, are not well characterized. We investigated the prevalence of impaired glucose metabolism among children and adolescents living with perinatally infected HIV in Ghana.

METHODS

In this multicentre, cross-sectional study, we recruited participants from 10 paediatric antiretroviral treatment clinics from January to June 2022 in 10 facilities in Greater Accra and Eastern regions of Ghana. We determined impaired glucose metabolism in the study sample by assessing fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin resistance as defined by the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. The prevalence of impaired glucose metabolism using each criterion was stratified by age and sex. The phenotypic correlates of glucose metabolism markers were also assessed among age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR).

RESULTS

We analysed data from 393 children and adolescents living with HIV aged 6-18 years. A little over half (205/393 or 52.25%) of the children were female. The mean age of the participants was 11.60 years (SD = 3.50), with 122/393 (31.00%) aged 6-9 years, 207/393 (52.67%) aged 10-15 years, and 62/393 (15.78%) aged 16-18 years. The prevalence rates of glucose impairment in the study population were 15.52% [95% confidence interval (CI): 12.26-19.45], 22.39% (95% CI: 18.54-26.78), and 26.21% (95% CI: 22.10-30.78) using HbA1c, HOMA-IR, and FBS criteria, respectively. Impaired glucose metabolism detected by FBS and HOMA-IR was higher in the older age group, whereas the prevalence of abnormal HbA1c levels was highest among the youngest age group. Age and BMI were positively associated with FBS and HOMA-IR (p < 0.001). However, there was negative correlation of WHR with HOMA-IR (p < 0.01) and HbA1c (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The high prevalence of impaired glucose metabolism observed among the children and adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa is of concern as this could contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome in adulthood.

Serum apelin-12 and obesity-related markers in Egyptian children with Down syndrome

Children with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit higher overweight/obesity rates than their typically developing peers. Apelin-12 is a bioactive adipokine that exerts vital roles in obesity-related cardiometabolic comorbidities. To date, apelin-12 has not been investigated in obese-DS. This study aimed to explore the possible association between serum apelin-12 and obesity-related markers and to evaluate the efficiency of apelin-12 in the prediction of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in obese-DS compared to BMI Z-score matched obese-control. The cross-sectional study included 150 prepubertal children classified into three groups; obese-DS (n = 50), obese-control (n = 50), and normal-weight-control (n = 50). Anthropometric parameters, body adiposity, fasting serum levels of blood glucose (FBG), insulin, lipid profile, and apelin-12 were evaluated. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated from FBG and insulin. MetS was defined using Adult Treatment Panel III criteria modified for the pediatric age group. ROC curves were analyzed to evaluate the efficiency of apelin-12 in predicting MetS in obesity groups. Obese-DS exhibited higher body adiposity with marked central fat distribution, atherogenic lipid profile, and higher HOMA-IR compared to obese-control. Apelin-12 was significantly higher in obese-DS and obese-DS with MetS compared to obese-control and obese-control with MetS respectively (p < 0.001). The increase in apelin-12 with higher obesity grades was pronounced in obese-DS. Apelin-12 strongly correlated with body adiposity, several MetS risk factors, and HOMA-IR in obese-DS. Significantly higher AUC for apelin-12 in the diagnosis of MetS among obese-DS than obese-control (AUC = 0.948 vs. AUC = 0.807; p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

 The current study supports the crucial role of apelin-12 in obesity-related clinical and biochemical markers and in MetS in obese-DS and obese-control. Serum apelin-12 is a potential diagnostic biomarker for MetS with greater performance in obese-DS than obese-control raising its potential for clinical and therapeutic applications.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Obese-DS children displayed excess body adiposity, Pronounced central fat distribution, atherogenic lipid profile, higher HOMA-IR, and higher prevalence of MetS than obese-control.

WHAT IS NEW

• Higher serum apelin-12 was observed in obese-DS and obese-DS with MetS than obese-control and obese-control with MetS respectively. The increase in apelin-12 level with increasing obesity grades was more pronounced in obese-DS. • Apelin-12 strongly correlated with obesity-related markers and MetS components in obese-DS. Apelin-12 performed better as a diagnostic biomarker for MetS in obese-DS than obese-control.

The Association between Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Cardiometabolic Health at 6 Months following a Hypertensive Pregnancy: A BP2 Sub-Study

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) complicate 5-10% of pregnancies, with resultant lifelong increased risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to describe lifestyle behaviours at 6 months post-HDP in four HDP subgroups, and their association with markers of cardiometabolic health. Subgroups were chronic hypertension (CH), gestational hypertension (GH), preeclampsia, and preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension (CH + PE). The BP2 study is a multi-site, three-arm, randomised controlled trial. At 6 months postpartum, the NSW Population Health Survey and BP2 surveys collected lifestyle behaviours and demographic data. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and blood pressure (BP) were also assessed. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Spearman's correlation coefficients were used. Of 484 women (16% CH, 23% GH, 55% preeclampsia, and 6% CH + PE), 62% were overweight or obese. Only 6% met the recommended five vegetable and two fruit serves per day, and 43% did not meet the recommended 150 min of moderate-vigorous physical activity in five sessions per week. Adherence to both diet and physical activity recommendations was correlated with more favourable cardiometabolic outcomes, including lower BMI, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic BP. Lifestyle interventions that improve diet and physical activity post-HDP are needed to reduce BP, BMI, and long-term CVD in this high-risk population.

Nomogram model for the risk of insulin resistance in obese children and adolescents based on anthropomorphology and lipid derived indicators

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to screen for measures and lipid-derived indicators associated with insulin resistance (IR) in obese children and adolescents and develop a nomogram model for predicting the risk of insulin resistance.

METHODS

A total of 404 eligible obese children and adolescents aged 10-17 years were recruited for this study from a summer camp between 2019 and 2021. The risk factors were screened using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-logistic regression model, and a nomogram model was developed. The diagnostic value of the model was evaluated by plotting the receiver operator characteristic curve and calculating the area under the curve. Internal validation was performed using the Bootstrap method, with 1000 self-samples to evaluate the model stability. The clinical applicability of the model was assessed by plotting the clinical decision curve.

RESULTS

On the basis of the LASSO regression analysis results, three lipid-related derivatives, TG/HDL-c, TC/HDL-c, and LDL-c/HDL-c, were finally included in the IR risk prediction model. The nomogram model AUC was 0.804 (95% CI: 0.760 to 0.849). Internal validation results show a C-Index of 0.799, and the mean absolute error between the predicted and actual risks of IR was 0.015. The results of the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test show a good model prediction (χ² = 9.523, P = 0.300).

CONCLUSION

Three early warning factors, TG/HDL-c, TC/HDL-c, and LDL-c/HDL-c, were screened, which can effectively predict the risk of developing IR in obese children and adolescents, and the nomogram model has an eligible diagnostic value.

Diagnostic performance of different anthropometric indices among Iranian adolescents for intima media thickness in early adulthood: A prospective study and literature review

Background

There is debate regarding which anthropometric indices is the most appropriate predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among adolescents. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in adolescents with high carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in early adulthood, as the surrogate marker of CVD in a cohort study.

Methods

A total of 875 Iranian adolescents (female = 421) aged 10-17 years old were entered the study. The cIMT was measured in early adulthood (20-38 years old) after 18.2 (median) years of follow-up and defined as > 90th percentile for sex and age groups. The gender specific association between a 1-SD increase in each anthropometric measures with high cIMT was examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, smoking, family history of CVD, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and fasting blood sugar. In the multivariable analysis, the interaction between sex and age groups with anthropometric measures were significant (all p-values < 0.05).

Results

Among males, all anthropometric measures including BMI, WC, WHR, and WHtR were associated with high cIMT; the corresponding odds ratios were 1.43 (1.05-1.94), 1.63 (1.22-2.19), 1.33 (1.03-1.71), and 1.41 (1.07-1.87), respectively. However, after considering the related adulthood anthropometric measurements, the association remained significant for WC 1.48 (1.04-2.10) and WHR [1.28 (0.99-1.66), P = 0.06]. Moreover, among early adolescent boys aged 10-14 years, all of the anthropometric measures were significantly associated with high cIMT in the multivariate analysis that included the related adulthood anthropometric measures. The area under the curve (AUC) for the anthropometric measurements among males ranged from 0.576 for WHtR up to 0.632 for WC, without any superiority between them. Among females, only in linear regression analysis, a significant association were found between the higher value of WC and WHtR with cIMT measurement in adulthood; however, the risk reached to null after considering adult anthropometric measures.

Conclusion

General and central obesity measures were significantly associated with high cIMT only among Iranian male adolescents, the relationship that were more prominent among pre-pubertal males.

Resting and exercise metabolic characteristics in obese children with insulin resistance

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the characteristics of resting energy expenditure (REE) and lipid metabolism during incremental load exercise in obese children and adolescents with insulin resistance (IR) to provide evidence for exercise intervention in obese children and adolescents with IR.

Method: From July 2019 to August 2021, 195 obese children and adolescents aged 13–17 were recruited through a summer camp. The participants were divided into IR (n = 67) and no-IR (without insulin resistance, n = 128) groups and underwent morphology, blood indicators, body composition, and resting energy consumption gas metabolism tests. Thirty participants each were randomly selected from the IR and no-IR groups to carry out the incremental treadmill test.

Results: Significant metabolic differences in resting and exercise duration were found between the IR and no-IR groups. In the resting state, the resting metabolic equivalents (4.33 ± 0.94 ml/min/kg vs. 3.91 ± 0.73 ml/min/kg, p = 0.001) and REE (2464.03 ± 462.29 kcal/d vs. 2143.88 ± 380.07 kcal/d, p &lt; 0.001) in the IR group were significantly higher than in the no-IR group. During exercise, the absolute maximal fat oxidation (0.33 ± 0.07 g/min vs. 0.36 ± 0.09 g/min, p = 0.002) in the IR group was significantly lower than in the no-IR group; maximal fat oxidation intensity (130.9 ± 8.9 bpm vs. 139.9 ± 7.4 bpm, p = 0.040) was significantly lower in the IR group.

Conclusion: Significant resting and exercise metabolic differences were found between obese IR and no-IR children and adolescents. Obese IR children and adolescents have higher REE and lower maximal fat oxidation intensity than obese no-IR children and adolescents.

Prediction of subclinical atherosclerosis in low Framingham risk score individuals by using the metabolic syndrome criteria and insulin sensitivity index

Background

Subclinical atherosclerosis can be present in individuals with an optimal cardiovascular risk factor profile. Traditional risk scores such as the Framingham risk score do not adequately capture risk stratification in low-risk individuals. The aim of this study was to determine if markers of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance can better stratify low-risk individuals.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 101 healthy participants with a low Framingham risk score and no prior morbidities was performed to assess prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis using computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound. Participants were compared between groups based on Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and Insulin-Sensitivity Index (ISI-cal) scores.

Results

Twenty three individuals (23%) had subclinical atherosclerosis with elevated CT Agatston score ≥1. Presence of both insulin resistance (ISI-cal <9.23) and fulfillment of at least one metabolic syndrome criterion denoted high risk, resulting in significantly improved AUC (0.706 95%CI 0.588–0.822) over the Framingham risk score in predicting elevated CT Agatston score ≥1, with net reclassification index of 50.9 ± 23.7%. High-risk patients by the new classification also exhibited significantly increased carotid intima thickness.

Conclusions

The overlap of insulin resistance and presence of ≥1 criterion for metabolic syndrome may play an instrumental role in identifying traditionally low-risk individuals predisposed to future risk of atherosclerosis and its sequelae.

Is autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease an early sweet disease?

The clinical course of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) starts in childhood. Evidence of the beneficial impact of early nephron-protective strategies and lifestyle modifications on ADPKD prognosis is accumulating. Recent studies have described the association of overweight and obesity with rapid disease progression in adults with ADPKD. Moreover, defective glucose metabolism and metabolic reprogramming have been reported in distinct ADPKD models highlighting these pathways as potential therapeutic targets in ADPKD. Several "metabolic" approaches are currently under evaluation in adults, including ketogenic diet, food restriction, and metformin therapy. No data are available on the impact of these approaches in childhood thus far. Yet, according to World Health Organization (WHO), we are currently facing a childhood obesity crisis with an increased prevalence of overweight/obesity in the pediatric population associated with a cardio-metabolic risk profile. The present review summarizes the knowledge about the role of glucose metabolism in the pathophysiology of ADPKD and underscores the possible harm of overweight and obesity in ADPKD especially in terms of long-term cardiovascular outcomes and renal prognosis.

Preclinical Aortic Atherosclerosis in Adolescents With Chronic Disease

Background

Adolescents with chronic disease are often exposed to inflammatory, metabolic, and hemodynamic risk factors for early atherosclerosis. Since postmortem studies have shown that atherogenesis starts in the aorta, the CDACD (Cardiovascular Disease in Adolescents with Chronic Disease) study investigated preclinical aortic atherosclerosis in these adolescents.

Methods and Results

The cross‐sectional CDACD study enrolled 114 adolescents 12 to 18 years old with chronic disorders including juvenile idiopathic arthritis, cystic fibrosis, obesity, corrected coarctation of the aorta, and healthy controls with a corrected atrial septal defect. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance was used to assess aortic pulse wave velocity and aortic wall thickness, as established aortic measures of preclinical atherosclerosis. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance showed a higher aortic pulse wave velocity, which reflects aortic stiffness, and higher aortic wall thickness in all adolescent chronic disease groups, compared with controls ( P <0.05). Age (β=0.253), heart rate (β=0.236), systolic blood pressure (β=−0.264), and diastolic blood pressure (β=0.365) were identified as significant predictors for aortic pulse wave velocity, using multivariable linear regression analysis. Aortic wall thickness was predicted by body mass index (β=0.248) and fasting glucose (β=0.242), next to aortic lumen area (β=0.340). Carotid intima‐media thickness was assessed using ultrasonography, and was only higher in adolescents with coarctation of the aorta, compared with controls ( P <0.001).

Conclusions

Adolescents with chronic disease showed enhanced aortic stiffness and wall thickness compared with controls. The enhanced aortic pulse wave velocity and aortic wall thickness in adolescents with chronic disease could indicate accelerated atherogenesis. Our findings underscore the importance of the aorta for assessment of early atherosclerosis, and the need for tailored cardiovascular follow‐up of children with chronic disease.

Robust determinants of neurocognitive development in children: evidence from the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study

Neurocognitive development is a dynamic process over the life course and is influenced by intrauterine factors as well as later life environment. Using data from the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study from 1994 to 2008, we investigate the association of in utero, birth, and childhood conditions with offspring neurocognitive development in 686 participants of the cohort, at age 12 years. The life course exposure variables in the analysis include maternal pre-pregnancy size and nutrition during pregnancy, offspring birth measurements, nutrition and physical growth at age 12 years along with parental education and socio-economic status. We used the novel Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) approach; which has been shown to have better predictive performance over traditional tests of associations. Our study employs eight standard neurocognitive tests that measure intelligence, working memory, visuo-conceptual and verbal learning, and decision-making/attention at 12 years of age. We control for nutritional-metabolic information based on blood measurements from the pregnant mothers and the children at 12 years of age. Our findings highlight the critical role of parental education and socio-economic background in determining child neurocognitive performance. Maternal characteristics (pre-pregnancy BMI, fasting insulin during pregnancy) and child height at 12 years were also robust predictors on the BMA. A range of early factors - such as maternal folate and ferritin concentrations during pregnancy, and child's head circumference at birth - remained important determinants of some dimensions of child's neurocognitive development, but their associations were not robust once we account for model uncertainty. Our results suggest that intrauterine influences on long- term neurocognitive outcomes may be potentially reversible by post-birth remediation. In addition to the current nutritional interventions, public health policy should also consider social interventions in children born into families with low socio-economic status to improve human capital.

Triglyceride glucose index is superior biomarker for predicting type 2 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is associated with predicting type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but its relationship with homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in T2DM is not established. We aimed to investigate the role of TyG index for detection of T2DM in children and adolescents and compare it with HOMA-IR. A cross sectional study was performed in 176 overweight or obese children and adolescents with mean age of 11.34 ± 3.24 years. TyG index was calculated as ln (fasting triglyceride (TG) [mg/dL] × fasting glucose [mg/dL]/2). Of a total of 176 subjects, 57 (32%) were diagnosed with T2DM. Significant differences were observed in the TyG index between T2DM and non-T2DM (p < 0.001). The TyG index had a positive correlation with fasting glucose (r = 0.519, p < 0.001), HOMA-IR (r = 0.189, p < 0.017), HbA1c (r = 0.429, p < 0.001), total cholesterol (TC) (r = 0.257, p = 0.001), TG (r = 0.759, p < 0.001), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)(r = 0.152, p < 0.001), and a negative correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)(r = -0.107, p < 0.001) after controlling for sex, age and BMI standard deviation scores (SDS). In multiple regression analyses, 91.8% of the variance in TyG index was explained by age, glucose, HOMA-IR, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C (p < 0.001). In the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the TyG index [area under the curve (AUC) 0.839)] showed a better performance compared to HOMA-IR (AUC 0.645) in identifying patients with T2DM (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the TyG index had significant association with insulin resistance in T2DM and was superior to HOMA-IR in predicting T2DM in children and adolescents.

An update of the consensus statement on insulin resistance in children 2010

In our modern society, where highly palatable and calorie-rich foods are readily available, and sedentary lifestyle is common among children and adolescents, we face the pandemic of obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and T2D. Insulin resistance (IR) is known to be the main underlying mechanism of all these associated health consequences; therefore, the early detection of IR is fundamental for preventing them.A Consensus Statement, internationally supported by all the major scientific societies in pediatric endocrinology, was published in 2010, providing all the most recent reliable evidence to identify the definition of IR in children, its measurement, its risk factors, and the effective strategies to prevent and treat it. However, the 2010 Consensus concluded that further research was necessary to assess some of the discussed points, in particular the best way to measure insulin sensitivity, standardization of insulin measurements, identification of strong surrogate biomarkers of IR, and the effective role of lifestyle intervention and medications in the prevention and treatment of IR.The aim of this review is to update each point of the consensus with the most recent available studies, with the goal of giving a picture of the current state of the scientific literature regarding IR in children, with a particular regard for issues that are not yet fully clarified.

The Epidemiological Boehringer Ingelheim Employee Study (Part 3): Association of Elevated Fasting Insulin Levels but Not HOMA-IR With Increased Intima Media Thickness and Arteriosclerosis in Middle-Aged Persons

Background: Recently published genetic studies have indicated a causal link between elevated insulin levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We, therefore, hypothesized that increased fasting insulin levels are also associated with precursors of CVD such as endothelial lesions. Methods: Middle-aged (≥40 years, n = 1,639) employees were followed up for the occurrence of increased intima media thickness (IMT ≥ 1 mm) or plaques in abdominal or cervical arteries (arteriosclerosis). Multivariable logistic regression analyses determined the incidence of increased IMT or arteriosclerosis. Adjusted relative risk (ARR) for increased IMT and arteriosclerosis was calculated by using Mantel-Haenszel analysis. Results: Increased IMT was diagnosed in 238 participants (15 %) and 328 (20 %) developed arteriosclerosis after 5 years of follow-up. Logistic regression analysis identified fasting insulin, BMI and smoking as risk factors for both cardiovascular endpoints (all p < 0.05), whereas age and diastolic blood pressure were risk factors for increased IMT only, and male sex was associated with incident arteriosclerosis only (all p < 0.01). Additional adjustment for BMI change during follow-up did not modify these associations (including fasting insulin), but adjustment for fasting insulin change during follow-up removed BMI as risk factor for both cardiovascular endpoints. Fasting insulin change during follow-up but not BMI change associated with increased IMT and arteriosclerosis (both p < 0.001). ARR analysis indicated that high fasting insulin and BMI added to age and sex as risk factors. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) did not associate with either cardiovascular endpoint in any model and smoking did not increase the risk conferred by high fasting insulin levels. Conclusions: Higher fasting insulin levels and increases in fasting insulin over time are associated with atherogenic progression and supersede BMI as well as HOMA-IR as risk factors.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Children with Obesity, Preventive Diagnostics and Possible Interventions

The increasing burden of obesity plays an essential role in increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The effects of obesity on the cardiovascular system have also been demonstrated in childhood, where prevention is even more important. Obesity is associated with hormonal changes and vascular dysfunction, which eventually lead to hypertension, hyperinsulinemia, chronic kidney disease, dyslipidemia and cardiac dysfunction—all associated with increased cardiovascular risk, leading to potential cardiovascular events in early adulthood. Several preventive strategies are being implemented to reduce the cardiovascular burden in children. This paper presents a comprehensive review of obesity-associated cardiovascular morbidity with the preventive diagnostic workup at our hospital and possible interventions in children.

A Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary, Personalized, Lifestyle Intervention Program Is Associated with Increased Leukocyte Telomere Length in Children and Adolescents with Overweight and Obesity

Leucocyte telomere length (LTL) is a robust marker of biological aging and is associated with obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in childhood and adolescence. We investigated the effect of a structured, comprehensive, multidisciplinary, personalized, lifestyle intervention program of healthy diet and physical exercise on LTL in 508 children and adolescents (239 males, 269 females; 282 prepubertal, 226 pubertal), aged 10.14 ± 0.13 years. Participants were classified as obese (n = 267, 52.6%), overweight (n = 174, 34.2%), or of normal BMI (n = 67, 13.2%) according to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cutoff points and were studied prospectively for one year. We demonstrated that LTL increased significantly after 1 year of the lifestyle interventions, irrespective of gender, pubertal status, or body mass index (BMI). Waist circumference was the best negative predictor of LTL at initial assessment. The implementation of the lifestyle interventions also resulted in a significant improvement in clinical (BMI, BMI z-score and waist to height ratio) and body composition indices of obesity, inflammatory markers, hepatic enzymes, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), and lipid profile in all participants. These findings indicate that the increased LTL may be associated with a more favorable metabolic profile and decreased morbidity later in life.

A Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Management Plan Is Effective in Reducing the Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence

BACKGROUND

Obesity in childhood and adolescence represents a major health problem of our century. In Greece, 30-35% of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. Objective and Hypotheses: To investigate the effectiveness of a comprehensive multidisciplinary personalized management plan at reducing the prevalence of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One thousand (n = 1,000) children and adolescents aged 2-18 years (mean age ± SD: 10.09 ± 2.86 years; 520 females, 480 males) were studied prospectively. Subjects were classified as obese (n = 579, 57.9%), overweight (n = 295, 29.5%) or having a normal body mass index (BMI) (n = 126, 12.6%) according to the International Obesity Task Force cutoff points. All subjects were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team at frequent intervals, received personalized advice on diet and exercise and were studied prospectively for 1 year. Detailed clinical evaluation and laboratory investigations were performed at the beginning and at the end of the study.

RESULTS

At initial evaluation, 57.9% of subjects were obese, 29.5% overweight and 12.6% of normal BMI. Indices of cardiometabolic disease were higher in obese than in overweight and normal-BMI subjects. Following 1 year of multidisciplinary management interventions, the prevalence of obesity decreased by 16.8%, the prevalence of normal BMI increased by 8.2%, and all cardiometabolic indices improved significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

A personalized multidisciplinary management plan is effective at reducing the prevalence of obesity in childhood and adolescence.

Fat Mass Accretion from Birth to 5 Years and Metabolic Homeostasis in Childhood: the Healthy Start Study

CONTEXT

It is unclear how fat mass accretion in early life is related to glucose-insulin homeostasis.

OBJECTIVE

Examine associations of fat and fat-free mass accretion from birth to early childhood with glucose-insulin homeostasis in early childhood in a multi-ethnic cohort.

METHODS

Observational Healthy Start study with data collection from 2010 to 2020. Air displacement plethysmography at birth and 4.8 (SD 0.7) years estimated fat mass percent (FMP, %), fat mass index (FMI, kg/m2), and fat-free mass index (FFMI, kg/m2). General population recruited from academic obstetrics clinics in Denver, Colorado, consisting of 419 mother/offspring dyads. The main outcome measures were fasting glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-2 insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR), and beta-cell function (HOMA2-B) at 4.8 years.

RESULTS

Greater fat mass accretion from birth to early childhood was associated with higher fasting glucose (ΔFMP β = 0.20 [95% CI 0.06-0.34], ΔFMI β = 0.90 [0.30-1.50]) in participants of Hispanic, Black, and Other races/ethnicities, while greater fat-free mass accretion was associated with higher fasting glucose in non-Hispanic White participants (ΔFFMI β = 0.76 [0.21-1.32]). Overall, greater fat, but not fat-free, mass accretion was also associated with higher insulin (ΔFMP β = 0.14 [0.09-0.18], ΔFMI 0.71 [0.51-0.92]), HOMA2-IR (FMP β = 0.02 [0.01-0.02], ΔFMI β = 0.09 [0.06-0.12]), and HOMA2-B (ΔFMP β = 0.92 [0.18-1.36], ΔFMI β = 4.76 [2.79-6.73]).

CONCLUSION

Greater fat mass accretion in infancy and childhood is associated with shifts in fasting glucose in children of Hispanic, Black, and Other races/ethnicities at 5 years of age. Body composition beginning in early life is relevant for metabolic health, and precise assessments of adiposity in pediatric research are needed.

Childhood Risk Factors and Adulthood Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a comprehensive review of the literature on childhood risk factors and their associations with adulthood subclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD).

STUDY DESIGN

A systematic search was performed using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases to identify English-language articles published through June 2018. Articles were included if they were longitudinal studies in community-based populations, the primary exposure occurred during childhood, and the primary outcome was either a measure of subclinical CVD or a clinical CVD event occurring in adulthood. Two independent reviewers screened determined whether eligibility criteria were met.

RESULTS

There were 210 articles that met the predefined criteria. The greatest number of publications examined associations of clinical risk factors, including childhood adiposity, blood pressure, and cholesterol, with the development of adult CVD. Few studies examined childhood lifestyle factors including diet quality, physical activity, and tobacco exposure. Domains of risk beyond "traditional" cardiovascular risk factors, such as childhood psychosocial adversity, seemed to have strong published associations with the development of CVD.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the evidence was fairly consistent in direction and magnitude for exposures such as childhood adiposity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, significant gaps remain in the understanding of how childhood health and behaviors translate to the risk of adulthood CVD, particularly in lesser studied exposures like glycemic indicators, physical activity, diet quality, very early life course exposure, and population subgroups.

Association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and metabolic syndrome in obese adolescents: A possible immune-metabolic link

Background Toxoplasmosis as a global disease is considered as a triggering factor responsible for development of several clinical diseases. However, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an understudied parasite of potential interest in obesity research. The current study aimed to explore the role of latent T. gondii infection in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in obese adolescents through studying the relationship between serum interferon-gamma [IFN-γ] and serum chemerin in context of MetS components. Methods Eighty-three obese adolescents were serologically screened for T. gondii-IgG antibodies and compared to 35 age-matched healthy T. gondii-seronegative controls. Participants were evaluated for anthropometric measurements, total-fat mass [FM], trunk-FM, serum lipid profile, IFN-γ, and chemerin levels. Homeostatic Model Assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Results The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher within obese T. gondii-seropositive group compared to obese T. gondii-seronegative group (P = 0.033). Seropositive obese MetS group displayed significantly higher trunk-FM, HOMA-IR, chemerin, and IFN-γ compared to seronegative obese MetS group. Serum chemerin and IFN-γ were strongly correlated (P < 0.001) and were positively correlated with BMI, WC, total-FM, trunk-FM, HOMA-IR, cholesterol, triglycerides and negatively correlated with HDLC. HOMA-IR was a common predictor for serum chemerin (P = 0.030) and IFN-γ (P < 0.001). Conclusions The study results suggest that T. gondii infection may exert an immune-metabolic effect that may have a potential role in the development of MetS among obese adolescents.

Ideal cardiovascular health at age 5-6 years and cardiometabolic outcomes in preadolescence

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association (AHA) developed a definition of ideal cardiovascular health (ICH) based on the presence of both ideal health behaviours (diet, physical activity, weight status and smoking) and ideal health factors (glucose, total cholesterol and blood pressure levels). However, research of ICH in the paediatric population is scarce. We aimed to study ICH at age 5-6 years by extending the original ICH score with the health behaviours: sleep duration, screen time and prenatal smoke exposure, and to evaluate its association with cardiometabolic outcomes at age 11-12.

METHODS

A total of 1666 children aged 5-6 years were selected from the database of the ABCD-study, a prospective cohort study on the health and development of children born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Of these, 846 (50.8%) were boys and 1460 (87.6%) had a healthy weight. Data on self-reported health behaviours and health factors were used to calculate the ICH scores (original and extended) by adding the frequency of scoring 'healthy' on each indicator, based on international cut-offs. The children were followed up for 6 years and cardiometabolic outcomes (carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), blood pressure, glucose and lipids) were measured. Associations between ICH (both original and extended) and cardiometabolic outcomes were examined using multivariable regression models.

RESULTS

At age 5-6 years, 11% scored poor (score 1-5), 56% intermediate (score 6-7) and 33% good (score 8-9) on extended ICH. Healthy diet and normal total cholesterol concentrations were the least prevalent. Neither the original nor the extended ICH scores were associated with CIMT at age 11-12. A higher score on the extended ICH was associated with lower total cholesterol (p for trend < 0.001), lower systolic (p for trend = 0.012) and diastolic blood pressure (p for trend = 0.011), and lower body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001) at age 11-12. The original ICH score was associated with lower total cholesterol (p < 0.001) and BMI (p < 0.001) only.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that extending the ICH score in young children with additional health behaviours improves prediction of some cardiometabolic outcomes, but not CIMT in preadolescence, compared to the original ICH score. We would recommend other researchers to incorporate objective measures of health behaviours and longer follow-up to find out whether associations persist into adulthood.

Postloading insulinemia is independently associated with arterial stiffness in young Japanese persons

Associations of arterial stiffness with glucose, insulin, and proinsulin dynamics during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) remain under debate. The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma glucose (PG), insulin, and proinsulin (Pro) contribute to arterial stiffness, measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV), in young Japanese persons. PG, immunoreactive insulin (IRI), and Pro levels were determined in 1193 young Japanese subjects (<40 years of age) with normal glucose tolerance or nondiabetic hyperglycemia before and at 30, 60, and 120 min during a 75-g OGTT. Participants were divided into two groups according to the median PWV. Background factors, PG, IRI, and Pro levels during the OGTT, and insulin sensitivity (SI) indices in each group were compared. Several multiple regression analysis models were used to evaluate factors contributing to PWV. All IRI and Pro levels before and after glucose loading and the area under the curve (AUC) values for IRI and Pro increased with higher PWV. 1/HOMA-IR and ISI-Matsuda as measures of SI decreased with higher PWV. The IRI AUC and Pro level before glucose loading (Pro0) were independently associated with PWV, in addition to male sex, heart rate, and mean blood pressure. The IRI AUC had a stronger relationship with PWV than Pro0. The IRI AUC had an independent relationship with PWV, whereas both SI indices did not. Postloading insulinemia, but not reduced SI, was independently associated with arterial stiffness in young Japanese persons.

Multicomponent Exercise Training Combined with Nutritional Counselling Improves Physical Function, Biochemical and Anthropometric Profiles in Obese Children: A Pilot Study

Aerobics or strength exercise plus diet interventions have been shown to counteract childhood obesity. However, little is known with regard to periodized multicomponent exercise interventions combined with nutritional counselling, which might be less demanding but more enjoyable and respectful of children and adolescents’ nature. In order to analyze the impact of such a multimodal approach, 18 obese children (10.8 ± 1.6 years; 63% females; z Body Mass Index 3 ± 0.4) trained for 60 min, twice weekly and were measured for body composition, biochemical parameters and physical function. We found that 16 weeks of multimodal intervention (14 of training), based on fun-type skill-learning physical activities and physical conditioning with challenging circuits and games, together with nutritional counselling, led to an attendance > 80%, with significant overall health improvement. Body composition was enhanced (p < 0.01 for z BMI, mid-upper-arm-circumference, waist-to-height ratio, tricipital and subscapular skinfolds, body-fat % by Slaughter equation and Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry body fat% and trunk fat%), as well as metabolic profile (LDL cholesterol, gamma-glutamyl transferase , alanine aminotransferase ; p < 0.05), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR; p < 0.05) and inflammatory response (C-Reactive Protein; p < 0.05). Physical fitness was also improved (p < 0.01) through better cardiovascular test scores and fundamental movement patterns (Functional Movement Screen-7, FMS-4). Tailoring multimodal supervised strategies ensured attendance, active participation and enjoyment, compensating for the lack of strict caloric restrictions and the low volume and training frequency compared to the exercise prescription guidelines for obesity. Nutritional counselling reinforced exercise benefits and turned the intervention into a powerful educational strategy. Teamwork and professionals’ specificity may also be key factors.

Childhood obesity and the associated rise in cardiometabolic complications

Childhood obesity is one of the most serious global public-health challenges of the twenty-first century. Over the past four decades, the number of children and adolescents with obesity has risen more than tenfold. Worldwide, an increasing number of youth are facing greater exposure to obesity throughout their lives, and this increase will contribute to the early development of type 2 diabetes, fatty liver and cardiovascular complications. Herein, we provide a brief overview of trends in the global shifts in, and environmental and genetic determinants of, childhood obesity. We then discuss recent progress in the elucidation of the central role of insulin resistance, the key element linking obesity and cardiovascular-risk-factor clustering, and the potential mechanisms through which ectopic lipid accumulation leads to insulin resistance and its associated cardiometabolic complications in obese adolescents. In the absence of effective prevention and intervention programs, childhood obesity will have severe public-health consequences for decades to come.

A prospective study of associations between in utero exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus and metabolomic profiles during late childhood and adolescence

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

This study aimed to: (1) identify metabolite patterns during late childhood that differ with respect to exposure to maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM); (2) examine the persistence of GDM/metabolite associations 5 years later, during adolescence; and (3) investigate the associations of metabolite patterns with adiposity and metabolic biomarkers from childhood through adolescence.

METHODS

This study included 592 mother-child pairs with information on GDM exposure (n = 92 exposed), untargeted metabolomics data at age 6-14 years (T1) and at 12-19 years (T2), and information on adiposity and metabolic risk biomarkers at T1 and T2. We first consolidated 767 metabolites at T1 into factors (metabolite patterns) via principal component analysis (PCA) and used multivariable regression to identify factors that differed by GDM exposure, at α = 0.05. We then examined associations of GDM with individual metabolites within factors of interest at T1 and T2, and investigated associations of GDM-related factors at T1 with adiposity and metabolic risk throughout T1 and T2 using mixed-effects linear regression models.

RESULTS

Of the six factors retained from PCA, GDM exposure was associated with greater odds of being in quartile (Q)4 (vs Q1-3) of 'Factor 4' at T1 after accounting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, maternal smoking habits during pregnancy, Tanner stage, physical activity and total energy intake, at α = 0.05 (OR 1.78 [95% CI 1.04, 3.04]; p = 0.04). This metabolite pattern comprised phosphatidylcholines, diacylglycerols and phosphatidylethanolamines. GDM was consistently associated with elevations in a subset of individual compounds within this pattern at T1 and T2. While this metabolite pattern was not related to the health outcomes in boys, it corresponded with greater adiposity and a worse metabolic profile among girls throughout the follow-up period. Each 1-unit increment in Factor 4 corresponded with 0.17 (0.08, 0.25) units higher BMI z score, 8.83 (5.07, 12.59) pmol/l higher fasting insulin, 0.28 (0.13, 0.43) units higher HOMA-IR, and 4.73 (2.15, 7.31) nmol/l higher leptin.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Exposure to maternal GDM was nominally associated with a metabolite pattern characterised by elevated serum phospholipids in late childhood and adolescence at α = 0.05. This metabolite pattern was associated with greater adiposity and metabolic risk among female offspring throughout the late childhood-to-adolescence transition. Future studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

The double burden of malnutrition: aetiological pathways and consequences for health

Malnutrition has historically been researched and addressed within two distinct silos, focusing either on undernutrition, food insecurity, and micronutrient deficiencies, or on overweight, obesity, and dietary excess. However, through rapid global nutrition transition, an increasing proportion of individuals are exposed to different forms of malnutrition during the life course and have the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) directly. Long-lasting effects of malnutrition in early life can be attributed to interconnected biological pathways, involving imbalance of the gut microbiome, inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and impaired insulin signalling. Life-course exposure to early undernutrition followed by later overweight increases the risk of non-communicable disease, by imposing a high metabolic load on a depleted capacity for homoeostasis, and in women increases the risk of childbirth complications. These life-course trajectories are shaped both by societal driving factors-ie, rapidly changing diets, norms of eating, and physical activity patterns-and by broader ecological factors such as pathogen burden and extrinsic mortality risk. Mitigation of the DBM will require major societal shifts regarding nutrition and public health, to implement comprehensive change that is sustained over decades, and scaled up into the entire global food system.

Association of Serum Calcium and Insulin Resistance With Hypertension Risk: A Prospective Population-Based Study

Background

The temporal sequence between serum calcium and insulin resistance (IR) and their effects on hypertension are unclear. We studied the association between serum calcium and IR, with risk of hypertension events in a longitudinal cohort conducted in China.

Methods and Results

Data from 8653 subjects aged 20 to 74 years with an average follow‐up of 5.3 years were analyzed. Serum calcium, and fasting and 2‐hour serum glucose and insulin were measured at baseline and follow‐up. Cross‐lagged panel and mediation analysis were used to examine the temporal relationship between serum calcium and IR and its impact on hypertension incidence. The conjoint effects of serum calcium and IR at baseline on hypertension at follow‐up were observed (P=0.029 for HOMA_IR [hepatic IR] and P=0.009 for Gutt index [peripheral IR]). The cross‐lagged path coefficient (β₂) from baseline serum calcium to follow‐up peripheral IR were significantly greater than path coefficient (β₁) from baseline peripheral insulin resistance to follow‐up serum calcium (β₂ =−0.354 versus β₁=−0.005; P=0.027). However, no directional relationships were observed in the serum calcium↔hepatic IR analysis. The mediation effect of peripheral IR on the association of serum calcium at baseline with hypertension at follow‐up was estimated at 16.4% (P<0.001).

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that higher serum calcium levels probably precede peripheral IR, and this 1‐directional relation plays a role in the development of hypertension.

Effectiveness of individual and group programmes to treat obesity and reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors in pre-pubertal children

Childhood obesity results in premature atherosclerosis and requires early intervention. Compare the effectiveness of 6-month lifestyle interventions (with choice of either individual or group therapy) with standard care on body mass index (BMI) z-score and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks factors in children with obesity. This 6-month randomized controlled trial with a 6-month follow-up included 74 pre-pubertal children with obesity (7.5-11.9 years) assigned randomly (2:1) to intervention or control. Families in the intervention arm choose between an individually delivered treatment (3 hours paediatrician + 4 hours dietician) or group treatment (35 hours with a multidisciplinary team). Children participated also to a weekly physical activity programme. We measured BMI, BMI z-score; waist circumference (WC); total and abdominal fat; blood pressure; common carotid artery intima-media thickness and incremental elastic modulus (Einc); endothelium-dependent and independent dilation (nitroglycerin-mediated dilation [NTGMD]) of the brachial artery; fasting plasma glucose, insulin, lipids; and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Compared to controls, at 6 months, abdominal fat and hs-CRP were reduced in both interventions. The group intervention was also effective in reducing BMI (-0.55 kg/m² ; 95% confidence interval -1.16 to 0.06) and BMI z-score (-0.08; -0.15 to 0.00) at 6 months and BMI, BMI z-score, WC, NTGMD, total and abdominal fat at 12 months. Abdominal fat and low-grade inflammation were significantly decreased in both interventions. High-intensity group treatment improved early signs of atherosclerosis in children with obesity. These findings are important for the promotion of cardiometabolic health in this population.

Impaired fasting glucose prevalence surge among Iranian adolescents in a decade: The Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

PURPOSE

Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is associated with incident diabetes, cardiovascular risk, and markers of atherosclerosis in early adulthood. We aimed to explore the 10-year change in IFG prevalence among adolescent participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, a population-based study from Iran.

METHODS

For our study, we used data on fasting plasma glucose (FPG), anthropometric, and demographic information of 11 to 19-year-old adolescents in study periods I (1999-2005; 1415 boys, 1583 girls) and II (2011-2014; 477 boys, 469 girls). Sex-adjusted and sex-stratified multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship of the study period (reference: study period I) with IFG.

RESULTS

The prevalence of IFG, general obesity, and central obesity increased from 7%, 13.3%, and 18.8% in study period I to 16.6%, 24%, and 37.4% in study period II; while a favorable trend was seen for blood pressure, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In the fully adjusted model, being older (age group 15-19 vs 11-14 years) and female sex were associated with lower risk. Being overweight and obese increased the risk by risk ratios (confidence interval) of 1.57 (1.17-2.11) and 1.63 (1.15-2.30), respectively. Central adiposity did not remain as an independent risk factor. Nevertheless, study period persisted as a significant factor despite all adjustments [2.20 (1.81-2.68)]. Results in the sex-stratified models were generally the same.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that the over 2-fold rise in IFG prevalence among adolescents was not solely dependent on general and central obesity.

Ancient origins of low lean mass among South Asians and implications for modern type 2 diabetes susceptibility

Living South Asians have low lean tissue mass relative to height, which contributes to their elevated type 2 diabetes susceptibility, particularly when accompanied by obesity. While ongoing lifestyle transitions account for rising obesity, the origins of low lean mass remain unclear. We analysed proxies for lean mass and stature among South Asian skeletons spanning the last 11,000 years (n = 197) to investigate the origins of South Asian low lean mass. Compared with a worldwide sample (n = 2,003), South Asian skeletons indicate low lean mass. Stature-adjusted lean mass increased significantly over time in South Asia, but to a very minor extent (0.04 z-score units per 1,000 years, adjusted R2 = 0.01). In contrast stature decreased sharply when agriculture was adopted. Our results indicate that low lean mass has characterised South Asians since at least the early Holocene and may represent long-term climatic adaptation or neutral variation. This phenotype is therefore unlikely to change extensively in the short term, so other strategies to address increasing non-communicable disease rates must be pursued.

Insulin metabolism markers are predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis among overweight and obese children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

To investigate the association between markers of insulin metabolism and carotid intima-media thickness(cIMT) among overweight and obese children and adolescents.

METHODS

A total of 378 children and adolescents aged from 6 to 13 years, with WHO body mass index Z-Scores ≥2 were enrolled in this study. We measured fasting serum insulin and glucose, conducted a homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR), and calculated the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index(QUICKI). Carotid intima-media thickness was measured in the common carotid artery with high-resolution ultrasonography.

RESULTS

The study participants consisted of 198 boys and 180 girls with a mean(±SD) age of 9.3 ± 1.7 years, 18.3% being pre-pubertal. In boys, after controlling for confounders, a one-SD increase in fasting insulin and HOMA-IR were associated with 0.351 mm(P < 0.001) and 0.350 mm(P < 0.001) increases in cIMT, respectively. However, a one-SD increase in QUICKI was associated with a - 0.305 mm(P = 0.001) decrease in cIMT. When categorizing into tertiles, a one-SD increase in fasting insulin and HOMA-IR were associated with 87 and 81% increases in the odds of higher categories of cIMT(both P < 0.05). However, a one-SD increase in QUICKI was associated with 37% lower odds of higher categories of cIMT(P = 0.022). No significant associations were found among girls.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that insulin resistance and sensitivity markers were independent predictors of cIMT in overweight and obese boys, but not in girls, highlighting the importance of chronically elevated insulin levels for predisposing these boys to alterations in their vascular structure.

A 12-week, whole-food carbohydrate-restricted feasibility study in overweight children

Background: Childhood obesity is a global health concern. Conventional nutrition guidelines have come under scrutiny in helping to achieve long-term healthy weight. An alternative carbohydrate-restricted, higher fat approach has shown to be effective in adults, but research is limited in youth. Aim: To assess the feasibility of a 12-week whole-food, carbohydrate-restricted diet on weight loss and metabolic health. Setting: Overweight children aged 8–13 years. Methods: In this single-arm study, 25 overweight children were provided with whole-food, carbohydrate-restricted dietary guidelines. Primary outcomes – dietary acceptability, adherence and affordability – were assessed qualitatively weekly (telephone) and post-intervention (focus groups). Secondary outcomes – Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, lipids and glycaemic control measures – were assessed at 0 and 12 weeks. Change scores were analysed using the t-statistic and interpreted using the statistical significance threshold, p < 0.05. Results: Overall, dietary acceptability was mostly positive, and reports of affordability by parents were mixed. Attrition rates were high (48%); adherence was influenced, positively and negatively, by levels of support from friends and family. Completing children reduced BMI by 2.1 ± 1.5 kg.m2 (p < 0.05). Key blood parameter changes included a reduction in triglycerides (−0.17 ± 0.48 mmol/L; p = 0.242) and an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (0.24 ± 0.19 mmol/L; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Children achieved some weight loss and health outcome success using this dietary approach. For sustainable weight loss maintenance, full family and health professional support, particularly on a more intensive level at the start, may be required.

Can health indicators and psychosocial characteristics predict attrition in youths with overweight and obesity seeking ambulatory treatment? Data from a retrospective longitudinal study in a paediatric clinic in Luxembourg

OBJECTIVES

The current study aimed to identify factors that could predict attrition in youths starting ambulatory treatment to control or lose weight.

DESIGN

Retrospective longitudinal study.

SETTING

Paediatric clinic: ambulatory treatment programme.

PATIENTS AND MEASURES

A youth sample (n=191; 89 boys; aged 7-17 years) completed measures of demographic characteristics, and health and psychosocial traits before starting an ambulatory weight management programme. Anthropometric and biological markers related to obesity were also obtained. Tests of mean differences and regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship between these variables and attrition after 1 year.

RESULTS

The χ²and t test results showed both psychosocial and health indicators differentiated between participants who continued attending the treatment programme and those who dropped out. More specifically, youths that dropped out of treatment were significantly older, had higher body mass index z scores, higher levels of insulin, triglycerides and HOMA-IR, reported poorer health, had more conduct problems and were more dissatisfied with themselves and their bodies before starting treatment. Results of regression analyses revealed that weight status (anthropometric and biological markers), age and body dissatisfaction predicted attrition (overall prediction success 73%; prediction success for continued attendance 90/91%; prediction success for dropouts 42/44%).

CONCLUSION

Attrition, but especially the continued attendance in treatment, can be successfully predicted by age, weight status and body dissatisfaction. For patients who present with one or more risk factors, careful consideration is needed to decide which (combination of) inpatient or outpatient programme may facilitate prolonged engagement of the patient and hence may be most effective in establishing weight loss.

Associations of risk factors in childhood with arterial stiffness 26 years later: the Hanzhong adolescent hypertension cohort

OBJECTIVE

The relationship between childhood risk factors and long-term arterial stiffness was explored.

METHODS

A baseline survey was conducted in 4623 school children aged 6-15 years in rural areas of Hanzhong city, Shaanxi, in 1987. According to three independent measurements of SBP in 1987, 1989, and 1992, cases of the same age and sex with continuous SBP at least 75 percentile were classified as the high-blood pressure (BP) group, whereas those with SBP less than 50 percentile were classified as the normal-BP group. The cohort was followed up again after 26 years (in 2013). Blood biochemistry indexes, including fasting glucose, uric acid, and blood lipid, were measured. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was recorded by noninvasive automatic waveform analyzer.

RESULTS

Follow-up rate was 71.6%. The high-BP group had a higher incidence of hypertension (39.5 vs. 18.0%, P < 0.01) and baPWV (1337.2 ± 198.3 vs. 1271.7 ± 204.3 cm/s, P = 0.028) than the normal-BP group during the follow-up period. Positive correlation was found during follow-up between baPWV and childhood SBP, as well as SBP, DBP, BMI, heart rate, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triacylglycerol, fasting glucose, and uric acid in adulthood (all P < 0.05). Results from stepwise multivariate regression analysis showed that men, family history of hypertension, SBP at both baseline and follow-up, fasting glucose, and uric acid in adulthood are independent impact factors of baPWV in adults.

CONCLUSION

Higher SBP in children and adolescents, family history of hypertension, and male sex may increase the risk of developing long-term arterial stiffness.

Developmental origins of diabetes-an Indian perspective

The developmental origins of health disease (DOHaD) hypothesis proposes that altered environmental influences (nutrition, metabolism, pollutants, stress and so on) during critical stages of fetal growth predisposes individuals to diabetes and other non-communicable disease in later life. This phenomenon is thought to reflect permanent effects ('programming') of unbalanced fetal development on physiological systems. Intrauterine programming may underlie the characteristic Indian 'thin-fat' phenotype and the current unprecedented epidemic of diabetes on the backdrop of multigenerational maternal undernutrition in the country. India has been at the forefront of the DOHaD research for over two decades. Both retrospective and prospective birth cohorts in India provide evidence for the role of impaired early-life nutrition on the later diabetes risk. These studies show that in a transitioning country such as India, maternal undernutrition (of micronutrients) and overnutrition (gestational diabetes) co-exist, and expose the offspring to disease risk through multiple pathways. Currently, the Indian scientists are embarking on complex mechanistic and intervention studies to find solutions for the diabetes susceptibility of this population. However, a few unresolved issues in this context warrant continued research and a cautious approach.

Vascular Function in Children with Low Birthweight and Its Relationship with Early Markers of Cardiovascular Risk

Low birthweight (LBW) increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Few studies have established its impact at early ages.

AIMS

To study endothelial function (EF) and arterial stiffness (AS) and their relationship to early markers of CVD risk in children with LBW.

METHODS

In children with LBW (4-6 years; n = 53), anthropometric, haemodynamic and laboratory parameters, including HOMA-IR, hs-CRP, adiponectin and leptin, were determined. EF and AS were evaluated by digital pulse plethysmography. Data were compared with a control group (n = 33).

RESULTS

In both groups, anthropometric parameters remained within normal limits. Insulin and HOMA-IR had normal values, but they were significantly augmented in LBW children. LBW children showed higher leptin and hs-CRP levels than the control group. The LBW group had decreased EF (37.5 ± 5.6%) compared with the control group (75.0 ± 11.9%; p < 0.01), however without differences in AS. In LBW children, EF was negatively correlated with waist circumference, leptin, hs-CRP and with a cumulative score of risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

LBW children display altered EF that is related to early changes in CVD risk factors. The differences found in the metabolic parameters might indicate a pro-inflammatory state. This hypothesis is also supported by the laboratory findings and the correlation between EF and the number of CVD risk factors, suggesting that very early lifestyle interventions may be needed.

Duration of Fasting, Serum Lipids, and Metabolic Profile in Early Childhood

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the association between fasting duration and lipid and metabolic test results.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was conducted in healthy children aged 0-6 years from The Applied Research Group for Kids! (TARGet Kids!) primary care practice network, Toronto, Canada, 2008-2013. The associations between duration of fasting at blood collection and serum lipid tests and metabolic tests were evaluated using linear regression.

RESULTS

Among 2713 young children with blood tests the fasting time ranged from 0 to 5 hours (1st and 99th percentiles). Fasting duration was not significantly associated with total cholesterol (β = 0.006; P = .629), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (β = 0.002; P = .708), low-density lipoprotein (β = 0.0013; P = .240), non-HDL (β = 0.004; P = .744), or triglycerides (β = -0.016; P = .084) adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, maternal ethnicity, and time of blood draw. Glucose, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance were significantly associated with fasting duration, and the average percent change between 0 and 5 hours was -7.2%, -67.1%, and -69.9%, respectively. The effect of fasting on lipid or metabolic test results did not differ by age or sex; HDL and triglycerides may differ by weight status.

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort of healthy young children, we found little evidence to support the need for fasting prior to measurement of lipids. The effect of fasting on glucose was small and may not be clinically important. When measuring serum lipid tests in early childhood, fasting makes a very small difference.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT0186953.

The Elevated Susceptibility to Diabetes in India: An Evolutionary Perspective

India has rapidly become a "diabetes capital" of the world, despite maintaining high rates of under-nutrition. Indians develop diabetes at younger age and at lower body weights than other populations. Here, we interpret these characteristics in terms of a "capacity-load" model of glucose homeostasis. Specifically, we assume that glycemic control depends on whether the body's "metabolic capacity," referring to traits, such as pancreatic insulin production and muscle glucose clearance, is able to resolve the "metabolic load" generated by high levels of body fat, high dietary glycemic load, and sedentary behavior. We employ data from modern cohorts to support the model and the interpretation that elevated diabetic risk among Indian populations results from the high metabolic load imposed by westernized lifestyles acting on a baseline of low metabolic capacity. We attribute this low metabolic capacity to the low birth weight characteristic of Indian populations, which is associated with short stature and low lean mass in adult life. Using stature as a marker of metabolic capacity, we review archeological and historical evidence to highlight long-term declines in Indian stature associated with adaptation to several ecological stresses. Underlying causes may include increasing population density following the emergence of agriculture, the spread of vegetarian diets, regular famines induced by monsoon failure, and the undermining of agricultural security during the colonial period. The reduced growth and thin physique that characterize Indian populations elevate susceptibility to truncal obesity, and increase the metabolic penalties arising from sedentary behavior and high glycemic diets. Improving metabolic capacity may require multiple generations; in the meantime, efforts to reduce the metabolic load will help ameliorate the situation.

Determinants of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity in prepubertal children

BACKGROUND

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a noninvasive technique to evaluate arterial stiffness, a dynamic property of the vessels, reflecting their structure and function. Childhood obesity is associated with several cardiovascular comorbidities and to the progression of atherosclerosis. We aimed to compare carotid-femoral PWV between normal weight and overweight/obese prepubertal children and to quantify its association with other cardiovascular risk factors.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study of 315 children aged 8-9years. Anthropometrics, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and carotid-femoral PWV were measured. Classification of obesity was according to World Health Organization (WHO) body mass index (BMI)-for-age reference values.

RESULTS

Compared to normal weight children, overweight and obese children presented significantly higher levels of PWV (4.95 (P25-P75: 4.61-5.23), 5.00 (4.71-5.33), 5.10 (4.82-5.50) m/s, respectively; ptrend<0.001). Significant positive correlations were found between PWV and total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting insulin and insulin resistance levels (HOMA-IR) and with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). In a multivariate linear regression model adjusted for sex, age, height and 24-h systolic blood pressure z-score, the independent determinants of PWV were BMI, HOMA-IR and the absence of dipping.

CONCLUSIONS

The association between PWV and the loss of dipping and insulin resistance levels, independently of the BMI, reinforces the contribution of these comorbidities to vascular injury in early life.