Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2025
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 and Vitamin D Association in the Overweight and Obese Pediatric Population
Giovina Di Felice1, Annamaria D'Alessandro1, Anna Pastore2
1Clinical Laboratory Unit, IRCCS "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital, 00165 Rome, Italy.
Insights
Childhood obesity is linked to increased inflammation and thrombotic risk. Overweight children show higher plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and lower vitamin D3 (VD) levels, indicating a significant health concern.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a global epidemic and a major public health threat.
- Obesity in children increases the risk of adult obesity and associated metabolic/hemostatic disorders.
- Elevated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and deficient 25OH-vitamin D3 (VD) are linked to thrombotic events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between overweight/obesity and PAI-1/VD levels in children.
- To assess inflammation indices in relation to weight status and VD levels in pediatric patients.
- To evaluate the thrombotic risk in overweight and obese children.
Main Methods:
- PAI-1 and VD levels were measured in 259 overweight/obese children (ages 2-18) and 80 normal-weight controls.
- Participants were enrolled in a Nutritional Education Program at Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital.
- Inflammation indices, including HOMA-IR, were assessed.
Main Results:
- Overweight and obese children exhibited increased HOMA-IR and inflammation indices compared to normal-weight children.
- Lower levels of 25OH-vitamin D3 (VD) were observed in overweight/obese children.
- Elevated PAI-1 levels were found in the pediatric overweight/obese cohort.
Conclusions:
- Overweight and obesity in children are associated with heightened inflammation.
- The study confirms elevated PAI-1 and low VD levels in overweight/obese pediatric patients.
- These findings indicate a significant thrombotic risk in this population.
Background:
Childhood overweight and obesity have been described by the World Health Organization as noncommunicable diseases and among the greatest public health threats since they have reached epidemic proportions. A child with obesity risks becoming an adult with obesity and developing metabolic and hemostatic disorders which are the basis for the development of coronary heart diseases. Recently, a number of clinical reports have demonstrated that both an increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and a deficiency in 25OH-vitamin D3 (VD) are associated with an increase in thrombotic episodes.
Methods:
PAI-1 and VD levels were measured in 259 clinically overweight and obese children aged between 2 and 18 years enrolled in the Nutritional Education Program of the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and Research Institute of Rome (Italy) and 80 normal-weight subjects.
Results:
We observed increased HOMA-IR, PAI-1, and other inflammation indices associated with decreased VD levels when compared to normal-weight children.
Conclusions:
Our results demonstrated that overweight and obesity are correlated with higher levels of the inflammation index. Moreover, our patients show high PAI-1 and low VD levels, confirming the high thrombotic risk in our pediatric population.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
01:23Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin...
01:24Obesity
01:27Urinary Tract Calculi IV: Nutrition Therapy and Prevention
01:18Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
01:29Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care