Growth patterns during childhood and the relationship with acylation-stimulating protein

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R W J Leunissen1, Y Gao, K Cianflone

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Subdivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC/Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. r.leunissen@erasmusmc.nl

Clinical Endocrinology
|January 29, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Exaggerated weight gain in childhood, not fetal growth, impacts Acylation-stimulating protein (ASP) levels and may impair free fatty acid (FFA) uptake. Preventing excessive childhood weight gain is crucial for metabolic health.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Health
  • Human Growth and Development

Background:

  • Acylation-stimulating protein (ASP) is an adipose-derived hormone regulating glucose and free fatty acid (FFA) uptake.
  • Altered ASP metabolism is linked to lipid metabolism changes.
  • Postnatal catch-up growth is associated with later-life dyslipidemia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between ASP levels and birth size, adult size, and childhood growth patterns.
  • To explore the role of postnatal growth in ASP metabolism and lipid regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Multiple regression analyses were performed on 285 young adults (aged 18-24).
  • ASP levels were compared across subgroups: small for gestational age with short stature (SGA-S), small for gestational age with catch-up growth (SGA-CU), idiopathic short stature (ISS), and controls.

Main Results:

  • Childhood weight gain, especially fat accumulation, positively correlated with early adulthood ASP levels, independent of birth size, age, and gender.
  • Foetal growth (birth size) showed no relation to ASP levels.
  • No significant differences in ASP levels were found between subgroups, but SGA-CU and ISS groups had higher FFA levels.

Conclusions:

  • Exaggerated childhood weight gain, not fetal growth, influences ASP metabolism.
  • Altered ASP metabolism may lead to impaired FFA uptake and delayed triglyceride clearance.
  • Preventing exaggerated weight gain during childhood is recommended to mitigate metabolic alterations.
Abstract

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