Evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction in obese adolescents
L Wilms1, J Larsen, P L Pedersen
1The Mitochondrial Research Unit, Naestved Hospital, Naestved, Denmark. lkwl@regionsjaelland.dk
Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|December 18, 2009
Summary
Obese adolescents show a lower metabolic rate, indicated by increased thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and decreased oxygen consumption. Impaired mitochondrial function suggests reduced thyroid hormone (TH) stimulation, potentially linked to maternal factors.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolism
- Mitochondrial Biology
Background:
- Obesity is often linked to energy imbalance, but the role of thyroid hormones (TH) is not fully understood.
- Mitochondrial function offers insight into intracellular TH effects and metabolic rate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate thyroid hormone status and mitochondrial function in obese adolescents.
- To determine if obese adolescents exhibit a lower basal metabolic rate compared to lean peers.
Main Methods:
- Compared 34 obese adolescents with 32 lean adolescents.
- Measured thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), basal oxygen consumption (VO2), and monocyte mitochondrial function via flow cytometry.
Main Results:
- Obese adolescents had significantly higher TSH and lower VO2 than lean adolescents.
- Mitochondrial mass and membrane potential were reduced in obese adolescents.
- Maternal obesity amplified these observed differences.
Conclusions:
- Obese adolescents exhibit a lower basal metabolic rate and impaired mitochondrial function, suggesting reduced TH stimulation.
- Maternal inheritance may contribute to metabolic defects or TH resistance in offspring.
Related Concept Videos
01:37Mitochondria
Mitochondria are eukaryotic cellular organelles that are known to produce energy through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Besides their primary function, mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, signaling, metabolism, and senescence. Age-related changes cause a decline in mitochondrial quality and integrity due to increased mitochondrial mutations and oxidative damage. Thus, aging can severely impact mitochondrial functions,...
01:24Obesity
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
02:59Animal Mitochondrial Genetics
Among all the organelles in an animal cell, only mitochondria have their own independent genomes. Animal mitochondrial DNA is a double-stranded, closed-circular molecule with around 20,000 base pairs. Mitochondrial DNA is unique in that one of its two strands, the heavy, or H, -strand is guanine rich, whereas the complementary strand is cytosine rich and called the light, or L, -strand. Compared to nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA has a very low percentage of non-coding regions and is marked by...