Different spexin level in obese vs normal weight children and its relationship with obesity related risk factors

Spexin (SPX) is a novel peptide recently discovered as an important regulatory adipokine in obesity and related metabolic diseases. The aim of the current study was to determine the potential role of Circulating levels of SPX in obese children and explore its relationships with obesity-related risk factors, and its potential role in preventing obesity.

Forty-five obese children and 45 normal-weight children of similar age and sex, with mean age of 13.73 (2.68) were recruited in this Study. Weight and height, blood pressure, resting metabolic rate (RMR), physical activity level, stress, anxiety and depression, appetite status, daily energy intake, pubertal stage, serum Spexin, Interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-1β, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fasting glucose, insulin and lipid profile, were measure during standard techniques. Median (IQR) of Spexin levels were significantly lower in obese vs. normal-weight children [120.70 (77.7) pg/mL vs.145 (186.7)pg/mL; P = 0.03]. Based on the tertiles of the serum Spexin levels, a protective independent effect was observed for the highest tertile of serum Spexin concentrations. Crude OR (CI): 0.33 (0.11-0.95), P-trend = 0.04. Model 1 OR (CI): 0.20 (0.05-0.73), P- trend = 0.01, Model 2 OR (CI): 0.22 (0.05-0.86), P -trend = 0.03. Serum Spexin concentration was significantly associated with IL-10, IL-1β, fasting Insulin and HOMA-IR (P < 0.05).

The lower circulating levels of Spexin in obese children compared to their normal-weight peers, the protective independent effect found for the highest tertile of serum Spexin, and its association with glucose metabolism and immune function observed in our study, suggest a potential role for this novel peptide in childhood obesity and its related metabolic disorders.