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Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor in prepubertal obese children: results from a 2-year lifestyle intervention
Raquel Corripio1, José-Miguel Gónzalez-Clemente, Pérez-Sánchez Jacobo
1Department of Paediatric Endocrine, Sabadell Hospital, Parc Tauli Corporation, University Autonomous of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain.
Insights
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels are lower in obese children and increase after lifestyle intervention. Weight loss, sports, and adequate carbohydrate intake correlate with BDNF increase in prepubertal obese children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Metabolic Health
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is implicated in adult obesity and metabolic syndrome.
- Its role in prepubertal obesity remains understudied.
- Understanding BDNF in pediatric obesity is crucial for metabolic health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma BDNF levels in prepubertal obese children compared to lean controls.
- To analyze the relationship between BDNF and metabolic syndrome components.
- To assess changes in BDNF following a 2-year lifestyle intervention program.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study with 73 obese and 47 lean prepubertal children.
- Evaluated anthropometrics, blood pressure, lipids, glucose tolerance, HOMA-IR, and plasma BDNF.
- Follow-up included assessment of weight loss, diet, and physical activity over 2 years.
Main Results:
- Baseline BDNF showed a trend towards lower levels in obese children (P=0.076).
- No correlation was found between BDNF and metabolic syndrome components at baseline.
- After intervention, BDNF increased, particularly in subjects who lost weight, engaged in sports, or had adequate carbohydrate intake.
Conclusions:
- Plasma BDNF may be lower in obese prepubertal children.
- BDNF is not directly correlated with metabolic syndrome components in this cohort.
- A lifestyle intervention program can increase BDNF levels in prepubertal obese children, suggesting a potential biomarker for intervention success.
Context:
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin potentially involved in the pathophysiology of obesity and metabolic syndrome in adults. In children, it has scarcely been studied.
Objective:
To analyse plasma BDNF and its relationship with metabolic syndrome components before and after 2 years of a lifestyle intervention programme in a prepubertal obese cohort.
Design And Setting:
Case-control study with a 2-year prospective follow-up in a referral paediatric endocrine outpatient centre.
Patients And Methods:
Seventy-three prepubertal obese children, 8·03 ± 1·08 years old, and 47 age- and gender-matched lean controls were studied. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, platelet count (PLT), oral glucose tolerance test, homoeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipid profile, BDNF, diet and physical activity were evaluated. Weight loss was considered if z-score body mass index (BMI) decreased at least 0·5 SD.
Results:
At baseline, BDNF tended to be lower in prepubertal obese children compared with lean controls (P = 0·076). BDNF did not correlate with any metabolic syndrome component. After 2 years, obese patients showed an increase in BDNF. Regression model analysis adjusted by age, sex, puberty, BMI, PLT and HOMA-IR showed that BDNF increased in subjects who lost weight (P = 0·036), practiced sports (P = 0·008) and had an adequate carbohydrate intake (P = 0·032).
Conclusions:
Plasma BDNF tends to be lower in obese prepubertal children than in lean controls, is not related to any other metabolic syndrome component and increases after a lifestyle intervention programme.
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