Chen YH, Chiou HY, Wang HY, Chung KH. Sex differences in the associations between psychological symptoms and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels among obese and nonobese children aged 6-13 in Taiwan.
J Affect Disord 2023;
320:241-246. [PMID:
36162686 DOI:
10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.073]
[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: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Evidence of associations between psychological symptoms and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level is scant, as is evidence on sex differences in associations for children and adolescents with obesity. This study examined sex differences in associations between psychological symptoms (self-concept, anxiety, depression, anger, and disruptive behavior) and TNF-α level in Taiwanese children and adolescents with healthy weight, overweight, or obesity.
METHODS
In 2010, 564 first, fourth, and seventh graders-comprising 250 children with overweight or obesity (44.3 %), 330 adolescents (58.5 %), and 303 males (53.7 %)-underwent a health examination and blood sampling and completed a questionnaire.
RESULTS
A significantly higher TNF-α level was found in children and adolescents with healthy weight than in those with overweight or obesity (median: 14.5 vs. 4.1 (pg/mL); p < 0.001). In multiple linear regression models, anxiety was significantly positively associated with TNF-α level in female participants with healthy weight (β = 0.11 per 10 increments in anxiety, 95 % confidence interval = 0.01-0.22).
LIMITATIONS
Given the cross-sectional nature of the study, no inferences of causal relationships among TNF-α level, obesity, and psychological symptoms could be made.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings enrich the literature on the TNF-α-psychological symptom association. Sex differences were found in children and adolescents without obesity rather than in those without obesity, and a higher TNF-α level was associated with increased anxiety in girls without obesity. The role of sex differences in the complex associations among psychological symptoms, TNF-α level, and overweight or obesity requires further investigation.
Collapse