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Supportive treatment of vascular dysfunction in pediatric subjects with obesity: the OBELIX study
Luca Pecoraro1,2, Thomas Zoller3, Richard L Atkinson4
1Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Insights
This study found that a combination of curcumin, resveratrol, zinc, magnesium, selenium, and vitamin D improved endothelial function in overweight and obese children, potentially reducing cardiovascular disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Overweight and obese children exhibit endothelial dysfunction, arterial thickening, and inflammation.
- Key nutrients like curcumin, resveratrol, zinc, magnesium, selenium, and vitamin D show promise for improving endothelial health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a combined supplement of curcumin, resveratrol, zinc, magnesium, selenium, and vitamin D on endothelial function in overweight and obese children.
Main Methods:
- Forty-eight children (6-17 years) were randomized into placebo and treatment groups.
- Endothelial function was assessed using post-occlusive release hyperemia (PORH) and heat provocation tests (HPT) at 0, 3, and 6 months.
Main Results:
- The treatment group showed significant improvements in delta flow (DF) via PORH and DF via HPT at 6 months.
- DF measurements correlated with body mass index, while hyperemic AUC index correlated with male participants.
Conclusions:
- The nutrient combination of curcumin, resveratrol, zinc, magnesium, selenium, and vitamin D appears effective in enhancing endothelial function in pediatric subjects.
- This intervention may help mitigate the risk of cardiovascular diseases in overweight and obese children.
Introduction:
Overweight or obese children develop abnormal endothelial cell dysfunction and arterial intima-media thickening with increased vasomotor tone and inflammation. Curcumin, resveratrol, zinc, magnesium, selenium, and vitamin D have shown beneficial effects on endothelial function. We test, among overweight and obese pediatric subjects, the effects on the endothelium of a combination of curcumin, resveratrol, zinc, magnesium, selenium, and vitamin D.
Methods:
Forty-eight subjects (6-17 years) were randomized into two groups (placebo vs treatment) attended three visits at 0, 3, and 6 months (±15 days). Endothelial function was assessed by means of a post-occlusive release hyperemic (PORH) test for estimation of delta flow (DF) and hyperemic AUC index, and a heat provocation test (HPT) to measure DF HPT (DFHPT).
Results:
Significant DF difference was noted at 6 months in both groups (p < 0.001). Overall time trend was significantly different between baseline, 3 months, and 6 months both in placebo (p < 0.05) and treatment (p < 0.001) groups and their comparison (p < 0.001). No differences were noted in hyperemic AUC index (3 and 6 months), whilst there were significant differences in time trends of rreatment (p < 0.001) and placebo (p < 0.05) groups and their comparison (p < 0.001). DFHPT difference between groups was significant at 3 and 6 months (p < 0.05). The overall time trend was significant exclusively in Treatment group between 3 and 6 months (p < 0.05). Correlation with anthropometrics was found for DF and body mass index (r = 0.677 6 months, p < 0.05), as well as for hyperemic AUC index and males (r = 0.348, p < 0.05), while DFHPT showed no correlation.
Conclusion:
Curcumin, resveratrol, zinc, magnesium, selenium, and vitamin D appear to be promising in enhancing endothelial function by improvement of both DF in the PORH test and DF in the HPT, lowering the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases in overweight and obese pediatric subjects.
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