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Sex dimorphic associations between oxidative stress and adiposity in early childhood
Zi-Lin Chen1,2,3, Xin Liu1,3, Min-Yi Tao1
1Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Early Life Health Institute, Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
Insights
Oxidative stress is linked to childhood obesity, particularly in boys. Elevated urinary 8-isoprostane levels correlated with increased body mass index (BMI) and body fat in males, but not females.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Environmental Health
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity.
- Understanding the role of oxidative stress in early childhood adiposity is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between oxidative stress and obesity/adiposity in early childhood.
- To explore potential sex differences in this relationship.
Main Methods:
- A nested case-control study was conducted within the Shanghai Birth Cohort.
- Urinary 8-isoprostane levels were measured in 4-year-old children.
- Associations with body mass index (BMI) z-score, body fat mass (BFM), and percent body fat (PBF) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Overweight/obese boys exhibited higher urinary 8-isoprostane concentrations than normal-weight boys.
- Urinary 8-isoprostane positively correlated with BMI z-score, BFM, and PBF in males.
- No significant differences or correlations were found in females.
Conclusions:
- Elevated oxidative stress is associated with overweight/obesity in early childhood.
- A significant sex dimorphism exists, with stronger associations observed in males.
- Oxidative stress may play a sex-specific role in the development of childhood adiposity.
Objective:
Oxidative stress is suspected in the development of obesity. We sought to evaluate the relationship between oxidative stress and obesity/adiposity in early childhood, and explore potential sex dimorphic associations.
Design:
Nested case-control study.
Methods:
In a study of 120 pairs of children with overweight/obesity vs. optimal weight in the Shanghai Birth Cohort, we assessed oxidative stress (urinary biomarker 8-isoprostane) in relation to obesity/overweight and adiposity indicators [body mass index (BMI, z-score), body fat mass (BFM), and percent body fat (PBF)] in early childhood (age 4 years).
Results:
Urinary 8-isoprostane concentrations were higher in overweight/obese vs. optimal weight children in males (2.23 ± 1.68 vs. 1.60 ± 1.01 ng/mg creatinine, P = .001), but similar in females (1.74 ± 1.81 vs. 1.81 ± 0.94, P = .26). Positive correlations were observed in 8-isoprostane with BMI z-score (r = 0.34, P < .001), BFM (r = 0.28, P < .001), and PBF (r = 0.26, P = .002) in males, while no correlation was observed in females. Adjusting for maternal and child factors, one log unit increment in urinary 8-isoprostane concentration was associated with a 0.72 (95% CI .31-1.13) increase in BMI z-score, 1.02 (0.12-1.19) kg increase in BFM, and 3.09% (0.01%-6.17%) increase in PBF in males, respectively.
Conclusions:
Oxidative stress levels were elevated in overweight/obesity children, and positively correlated with adiposity in males only, suggesting sex-dimorphic associations between oxidative stress and adiposity/obesity in early childhood.
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