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Plasma pentraxin-3 levels and its role in childhood obesity-Is it anti-inflammatory? A matched group study
Merve Uysal1, Burak Mete1, Ertan Kara1
1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
Insights
Obese children have higher pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) levels, an inflammation marker. Increased physical activity and polyunsaturated fats correlate with higher PTX-3, while fat mass and dietary fat intake show inverse relationships, suggesting PTX-3
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Inflammation Biomarkers
- Childhood Obesity
Background:
- Obesity is linked to chronic low-grade systemic inflammation in children.
- Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) is an inflammatory marker implicated in various conditions.
- Understanding PTX-3's role in pediatric obesity is crucial for assessing inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) levels and anthropometric measurements in children.
- To explore the association of PTX-3 with dietary content and physical activity levels in pediatric populations.
- To determine PTX-3's role as a potential biomarker for inflammation in childhood obesity.
Main Methods:
- A matched group study design involving 91 children aged 6-17 years.
- Participants were categorized into non-obese (BMI SDS <95th percentile) and obese (BMI SDS ≥95th percentile) groups.
- Plasma PTX-3 levels were measured and correlated with anthropometric data, diet, and physical activity.
Main Results:
- Plasma PTX-3 levels were significantly elevated in obese children compared to non-obese children (p=0.028).
- A weak positive correlation was observed between PTX-3 and physical activity level (r=0.176, p=0.049), and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake (r=0.223, p=0.017).
- Fat mass partially mediated PTX-3 levels, with increased subcutaneous adipose tissue negatively impacting PTX-3; higher dietary fat intake correlated with decreased PTX-3.
Conclusions:
- Plasma PTX-3 levels are associated with inflammation in children, potentially indicating lower inflammation with increased PTX-3.
- Subcutaneous adipose tissue indirectly influences PTX-3 levels, suggesting a complex interplay in pediatric obesity.
- PTX-3 may serve as a valuable biomarker for assessing inflammation status in relation to obesity and lifestyle factors in children.
Objective:
Obesity has been associated with chronic low-grade systemic inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) with anthropometric measurements, dietary content and physical activity level in children.
Design:
A matched group study.
Patients:
This study was conducted with 91 children aged 6-17 years, divided into two groups: "non-obese group" (Body Mass Index Standard Deviation Score [BMI SDS] <95th percentile) and "obese group" (BMI SDS ≥95th percentile).
Measurements:
Plasma PTX-3 levels.
Results:
The mean age of 91 children included in the study was 12.34 ± 2.86 years. Plasma PTX-3 levels were significantly higher in obese children (p = .028). No significant correlation was found between BMI SDS and plasma PTX-3 values, but a weak positive correlation was found when physical activity level was controlled (r = .176, p = .049). In addition, it was found that fat mass was a partial mediator of plasma PTX-3 level, and an increase in the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue negatively affected plasma PTX-3 level. Plasma PTX-3 level showed a weak positive correlation (r = .223, p = .017) with physical activity score and dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid intake, while a weak negative correlation with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. One unit increase in physical activity score or polyunsaturated fatty acid level caused 0.730 and 2.061 unit increases in plasma PTX-3 level, respectively; while one unit increase in dietary fat intake caused 0.413-unit decrease.
Conclusion:
There was an indirect relationship between the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue and PTX-3 level. The results of our study suggested that plasma PTX-3 was associated with lower levels of inflammation in children.
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