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Ozkececi G, Akci O, Bektur S, Pektas A, Avsar A, Onrat E. The effect of breastfeeding during infancy on arterial stiffness in young adults. Minerva Pediatr (Torino) 2022; 74:49-55. [PMID: 35283477 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-5276.16.04392-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breastfeeding has many benefits for health, also later in life. However, its effects on the cardiovascular system are still unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of exclusive breastfeeding as infants on arterial stiffness in young adults having no cardiovascular risk factors, using aortic pulse wave velocity, and brachial and aortic augmentation index. METHODS Eighty-six subjects were included in the study from similar socioeconomic status. 46 subjects who had received exclusive breastfeeding for the first 4-6 months in infancy (26 women, mean age 26.7±4 years) (group 1) and 40 subjects who had received exclusive breastfeeding for less than 3 months or had never been breast-fed (22 women, mean age: 28±3.8 years) (group 2) were recruited. Parameters of arterial stiffness (aortic pulse wave velocity, brachial and aortic augmentation index) were investigated using an arteriograph (TensioMed, Budapest, Hungary), which works on an ossilometric basis. RESULTS A significant decrease in pulse wave velocity in the breast-fed group was detected compared to the non-breast-fed group (P<0.05) but no significant difference was detected for aortic and brachial augmentation index. In addition there was a significant relationship between breastfeeding duration and aortic pulse wave velocity. CONCLUSIONS Breast milk intake in infancy reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in young adults, independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. It seems that there is a negative relationship between the duration of breastfeeding and the risk reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulay Ozkececi
- Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey -
| | - Onder Akci
- Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
| | - Serkan Bektur
- Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
| | - Ayhan Pektas
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
| | - Alaettin Avsar
- Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
| | - Ersel Onrat
- Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
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Lausten-Thomsen U, Lund MAV, Stinson SE, Frithioff-Bøjsøe C, Holm LA, Baker JL, Fonvig CE, Christiansen M, Ängquist L, Hansen T, Holm JC. Neonatal Anthropometrics and Obesity Treatment Response in Children and Adolescents. J Pediatr 2022; 242:74-78.e2. [PMID: 34774572 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between in utero growth conditions, as indicated by neonatal anthropometric measures, and childhood obesity treatment response, to examine the potential usefulness of neonatal anthropometrics as a potential childhood obesity treatment stratification tool. STUDY DESIGN The study included 2474 children and adolescents with obesity (mean age, 11.2 years; range, 5.0-18.9 years) treated at the Children's Obesity Clinic in Holbæk, Denmark. Treatment response was registered prospectively, and neonatal data were collected from national electronic registers. RESULTS Birth weight, birth length, birth weight for gestational age, and large for gestational age status were positively associated with the degree of obesity at treatment initiation. After a mean (SD) of 1.27 (0.69) years of enrollment in obesity treatment, the children exhibited a mean reduction of -0.32 (0.50) in body mass index SD score. No significant associations between neonatal anthropometric measures and childhood obesity treatment response were detected. CONCLUSIONS Neonatal anthropometric measures were positively associated with the degree of obesity at treatment initiation but not with response to multidisciplinary treatment of childhood obesity. Individualization of obesity treatment based on neonatal anthropometry does not seem warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrik Lausten-Thomsen
- Department of Neonatology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Morten Asp Vonsild Lund
- The Children's Obesity Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital Holbæk, Holbæk, Denmark; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sara Elizabeth Stinson
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christine Frithioff-Bøjsøe
- The Children's Obesity Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital Holbæk, Holbæk, Denmark; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Louise Aas Holm
- The Children's Obesity Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital Holbæk, Holbæk, Denmark; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jennifer Lyn Baker
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cilius Esmann Fonvig
- The Children's Obesity Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital Holbæk, Holbæk, Denmark; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pediatrics, Kolding Hospital, Kolding, Denmark
| | - Michael Christiansen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department for Congenital Disorders, Danish National Biobank and Biomarkers, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars Ängquist
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Torben Hansen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens-Christian Holm
- The Children's Obesity Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital Holbæk, Holbæk, Denmark; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Moreno-Galarraga L, Álvarez-Zallo N, Oliver-Olid A, Miranda-Ferreiro G, Martínez-González MÁ, Martín-Calvo N. Parent-reported birth information: birth weight, birth length and gestational age. Validation study in the SENDO project. GACETA SANITARIA 2019; 35:224-229. [PMID: 31785891 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2019.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test the validity of parent-reported birth information obtained through an online, self-administered questionnaire. METHOD The SENDO project is a prospective and dynamic paediatric cohort of Spanish children aged 4 to 6 years old at recruitment. Objective data from medical birth records were compared to parent-reported data getting intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for quantitative variables and weighted Kappa Index for qualitative ones. Percentage of responders and of total agreement was also evaluated. RESULTS Parental response rate was over 99% for birth weight and gestational age and 76% for birth length. ICC for birth weight was 0.95 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.94-0.96) and 0.78 (95%CI: 0.73-0.83) for birth length, both showing very high correlations. The total agreement percentage for gestational age was 97%, and Kappa weighted index was 0.90 (95%CI: 0.89-0.90), showing a very high agreement as well. CONCLUSIONS We found high correlations and excellent agreement in parent-reported birth data 4 to 6 years after delivery. Our results show parent-reported birth data, especially birth weight, are valid for use in epidemiological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Moreno-Galarraga
- Pediatrics Department, Complejo Hospital de Navarra, Servicio Navarro de Salud-Osasunbidea, Pamplona, Spain; IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Noelia Álvarez-Zallo
- IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Primary Health Care Pediatric Service of Navarra, Servicio Navarro de Salud-Osasunbidea, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Asier Oliver-Olid
- Pediatrics Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Genoveva Miranda-Ferreiro
- Primary Health Care Pediatric Service of Navarra, Servicio Navarro de Salud-Osasunbidea, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Martínez-González
- IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre Network on Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nerea Martín-Calvo
- IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre Network on Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine nutritional status and related factors among schoolchildren in Çorum, Central Anatolia, Turkey. DESIGN Schoolchildren's height and weight were measured to calculate BMI and BMI Z-scores. Height, weight and BMI Z-scores were analysed and nutritional status classified according to the WHO. SETTING Central Anatolia, Turkey.ParticipantsSchoolchildren aged 5-17 years (n 1684) participated in study. RESULTS Of children, 4·2% were stunted, 6·9% thin, 13·8% overweight and 6·6% were obese. Proportions of stunting, thinness and overweight/obesity were significantly higher in children aged >10 years (78·6, 75·0 and 64·9%, respectively) than in those aged ≤10 years (21·4, 25·0 and 35·1%, respectively; all P <0·001). Median (range) birth weight and breast-feeding duration in children with stunting (2750 (1400-3600)g; 10 (0-36) months) were significantly lower and shorter, respectively, than those of normal height (3200 (750-5500)g; 15 (0-72) months) and tall children (3500 (2500-4900)g; 18 (0-36) months; P <0·001, <0·001, 0·011 and 0·016, respectively). The same relationship was observed in thin children (3000 (1000-4500)g; 12 (0-36) months) compared with normal-weight (3200 (750-5500)g; 15 (0-72) months) and overweight/obese children (3300 (1200-5500)g; 16 (0-48) months; P=0·026, <0·001, 0·045 and 0·011, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Overweight and obesity are health problems that must be addressed in schoolchildren. Adolescents also have a risk of double malnutrition. Promoting normal birth weight and encouraging long duration of breast-feeding are important to support normal growth in children.
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Increased birth weight is associated with altered gene expression in neonatal foreskin. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2017; 8:575-583. [PMID: 28482944 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174417000290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Elevated birth weight is linked to glucose intolerance and obesity health-related complications later in life. No studies have examined if infant birth weight is associated with gene expression markers of obesity and inflammation in a tissue that comes directly from the infant following birth. We evaluated the association between birth weight and gene expression on fetal programming of obesity. Foreskin samples were collected following circumcision, and gene expression analyzed comparing the 15% greatest birth weight infants (n=7) v. the remainder of the cohort (n=40). Multivariate linear regression models were fit to relate expression levels on differentially expressed genes to birth weight group with adjustment for variables selected from a list of maternal and infant characteristics. Glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2), leptin receptor (LEPR), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) were significantly upregulated and histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and thioredoxin (TXN) downregulated in the larger birth weight neonates v. CONTROLS Multivariate modeling revealed that the estimated adjusted birth weight group difference exceeded one standard deviation of the expression level for eight of the 10 genes. Between 25 and 50% of variation in expression level was explained by multivariate modeling for eight of the 10 genes. Gene expression related to glycemic control, appetite/energy balance, obesity and inflammation were altered in tissue from babies with elevated birth weight, and these genes may provide important information regarding fetal programming in macrosomic babies.
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Dass Singh M, Thomas P, Hor M, Almond T, Owens J, Hague W, Fenech M. Infant birth outcomes are associated with DNA damage biomarkers as measured by the cytokinesis block micronucleus cytome assay: the DADHI study. Mutagenesis 2017; 32:355-370. [DOI: 10.1093/mutage/gex001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
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The Association between Newborn Regional Body Composition and Cord Blood Concentrations of C-Peptide and Insulin-Like Growth Factor I. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121350. [PMID: 26151559 PMCID: PMC4495032 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Accepted: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Third trimester fetal growth is partially regulated by C-peptide and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Prenatal exposures including maternal obesity and high gestational weight gain as well as high birth weight have been linked to subsequent metabolic disease. We evaluated the associations between newborn regional body composition and cord blood levels of C-peptide and IGF-I. Methods We prospectively included obese and normal-weight mothers and their newborns; cord blood was collected and frozen. Analyses of C-peptide and IGF-I were performed simultaneously, after recruitment was completed. Newborn regional body composition was assessed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning (DXA) within 48 hours of birth. Results Three hundred thirty-six term infants were eligible to participate in the study; of whom 174 (52%) infants had cord blood taken. Total, abdominal and arm and leg fat mass were positively associated with C-peptide (p < 0.001). Arm and leg fat mass was associated with IGF-I concentration: 28 g [95% confidence interval: 4, 53] per doubling of IGF-I. There was no association between total or abdominal fat mass and IGF-I. Fat-free mass was positively associated with both C-peptide (p < 0.001) and IGF-I (p = 0.004). Conclusion Peripheral fat tissue accumulation was associated with cord blood C-peptide and IGF-I. Total and abdominal fat masses were related to C-peptide but not to IGF-I. Thus, newborn adiposity is partially mediated through C-peptide and early linear growth is associated with IGF-I.
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Thurber KA, Dobbins T, Kirk M, Dance P, Banwell C. Early Life Predictors of Increased Body Mass Index among Indigenous Australian Children. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130039. [PMID: 26075400 PMCID: PMC4468174 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/15/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are more likely than non-Indigenous Australians to be obese and experience chronic disease in adulthood--conditions linked to being overweight in childhood. Birthweight and prenatal exposures are associated with increased Body Mass Index (BMI) in other populations, but the relationship is unclear for Indigenous children. The Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children is an ongoing cohort study of up to 1,759 children across Australia. We used a multilevel model to examine the association between children's birthweight and BMI z-score in 2011, at age 3-9 years, adjusted for sociodemographic and maternal factors. Complete data were available for 682 of the 1,264 children participating in the 2011 survey; we repeated the analyses in the full sample with BMI recorded (n=1,152) after multilevel multiple imputation. One in ten children were born large for gestational age, and 17% were born small for gestational age. Increasing birthweight predicted increasing BMI; a 1-unit increase in birthweight z-score was associated with a 0.22-unit (95% CI:0.13, 0.31) increase in childhood BMI z-score. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with a significant increase (0.25; 95% CI:0.05, 0.45) in BMI z-score. The multiple imputation analysis indicated that our findings were not distorted by biases in the missing data. High birthweight may be a risk indicator for overweight and obesity among Indigenous children. National targets to reduce the incidence of low birthweight which measure progress by an increase in the population's average birthweight may be ignoring a significant health risk; both ends of the spectrum must be considered. Interventions to improve maternal health during pregnancy are the first step to decreasing the prevalence of high BMI among the next generation of Indigenous children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Thurber
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Timothy Dobbins
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Martyn Kirk
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Phyll Dance
- ANU Medical School, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- National Centre for Indigenous Studies, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Cathy Banwell
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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Sauer S, Luge T. Nutriproteomics: Facts, concepts, and perspectives. Proteomics 2015; 15:997-1013. [DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201400383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Revised: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Sauer
- Otto Warburg Laboratory; Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics; Berlin Germany
| | - Toni Luge
- Otto Warburg Laboratory; Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics; Berlin Germany
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Romano ME, Savitz DA, Braun JM. Challenges and future directions to evaluating the association between prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals and childhood obesity. CURR EPIDEMIOL REP 2014; 1:57-66. [PMID: 25328860 PMCID: PMC4199333 DOI: 10.1007/s40471-014-0007-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is an increasing public health threat worldwide. However, there has been insufficient research addressing the obesogenic potential of prenatal exposure to environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals, largely due to complexities in the design, analysis, and interpretation of such studies. This review describes relevant biological mechanisms, addresses current challenges for investigators, presents potential strategies for overcoming them, and identifies areas where further development is required to improve future research. Special considerations for exposure assessment, outcome heterogeneity, and complex confounding structures are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - David A. Savitz
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Joseph M. Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
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Gunta SS, Mak RH. Hypertension in children with obesity. World J Hypertens 2014; 4:15-24. [DOI: 10.5494/wjh.v4.i2.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Revised: 05/04/2014] [Accepted: 05/14/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of obesity related hypertension has dramatically increased in children with the parallel increase in pediatric obesity. This pediatric health problem may adversely affect cardiovascular health in adult life. The pathogenesis of hypertension in obese children is not widely understood. We therefore undertake this review to raise public awareness. Early childhood parameters like birth weight and postnatal weight gain may play important roles in risk for obesity and obesity related hypertension later in childhood and adult life. Further information is required to confirm this origin of hypertension so that appropriate measures are taken in the peri-natal period. The role of sympathetic nervous system has now been well established as one of the principle mechanisms involved in obesity related hypertension. The Renin-Angiotensin system, insulin resistance due to obesity and as a part of metabolic syndrome along with imbalance in adipokines such as leptin and adiponectin, cause activation of the sympathetic system, vasoconstriction, endothelial dysfunction and sodium reabsorption among other perturbations. Multi-step interventions targeting these various mechanisms are required to break the cycle of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Vitamin D deficiency, sleep apnea due to airway obstruction and hyperuricemia may also play a significant role and should not be ignored in its early stages. Obesity is a risk factor for other co-morbid conditions like chronic kidney disease and fatty liver which further accentuate the risk of hypertension. Increased awareness is required to prevent, diagnose and treat obesity related hypertension among the pediatric population.
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Lausten-Thomsen U, Nielsen TRH, Thagaard IN, Larsen T, Holm JC. Neonatal anthropometrics and body composition in obese children investigated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Eur J Pediatr 2014; 173:623-7. [PMID: 24318487 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-013-2226-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 11/21/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Epidemiological and animal studies have suggested an effect of the intrauterine milieu upon the development of childhood obesity. This study investigates the relationship between body composition measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry expressed as body fat percent, body fat mass index (BFMI), and fat free mass index (FFMI) in obese children and the preceding in utero conditions expressed by birth weight, birth length, and birth weight for gestational age. The study cohort consisted of 776 obese Danish children (median age 11.6 years, range 3.6-17.9) with a mean Body Mass Index Standard Deviation Score (BMI SDS) of 2.86 (range 1.64-5.48) treated in our national referral centre. In a linear general regression model adjusted for age, gender, socioeconomic status, and duration of breastfeeding, we found the body fat percent, FFMI, and BFMI at the time of enrolment in childhood obesity treatment to be significantly correlated with both birth weight and birth weight for gestational age. CONCLUSION These results indicate a prenatal influence upon childhood obesity. Although there are currently no sufficient data to suggest any recommendations to pregnant women, it is possible that the prenatal period may be considered as a potential window of opportunity for prevention of childhood overweight and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrik Lausten-Thomsen
- The Children's Obesity Clinic, Department of Paediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital Holbaek, Smedelundsgade 60, 4300, Holbaek, Denmark,
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