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Weight loss in prepubertal obese children is associated with a decrease in adipocyte fatty-acid-binding protein

Raquel Corripio1, José-Miguel Gónzalez-Clemente, Jacobo Pérez-Sánchez

  • 1Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Hospital de Sabadell, Institut Universitari Parc Taulí, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), C/Parc Taulí SN, 08208 Sabadell, Spain.

European Journal of Endocrinology
|September 28, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Obese children have higher lipocalin-2 and adipocyte fatty-acid-binding protein (A-FABP) levels. Weight loss in obese children significantly reduced A-FABP, but not lipocalin-2.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Syndrome Research
  • Adipokine Signaling

Background:

  • Lipocalin-2 and adipocyte fatty-acid-binding protein (A-FABP) are adipokines implicated in adult obesity and metabolic syndrome.
  • Limited research exists on these adipokines in prepubertal children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate circulating levels of lipocalin-2 and A-FABP in prepubertal obese children.
  • To analyze changes in these adipokines following a 2-year lifestyle intervention.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study followed 73 obese children and 47 lean controls for 2 years.
  • Evaluated anthropometrics, blood pressure, glucose tolerance, HOMA-IR, lipid profile, lipocalin-2, and A-FABP.
  • Weight loss defined as a decrease in BMI z-score of at least 0.5 s.d.

Main Results:

  • Obese children had significantly higher baseline lipocalin-2 and A-FABP than lean controls.
  • A-FABP levels correlated positively with obesity severity.
  • Weight loss in obese children led to a significant decrease in A-FABP (29% reduction for 2% BMI decrease), but lipocalin-2 remained unchanged.
  • Regression analysis indicated A-FABP was lower in males and influenced by BMI.

Conclusions:

  • Prepubertal obese children exhibit elevated plasma lipocalin-2 and A-FABP.
  • Adipocyte fatty-acid-binding protein (A-FABP) levels are responsive to weight loss in this cohort.
  • Lipocalin-2 levels were not significantly affected by the intervention or obesity parameters in this study.
Abstract

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