Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 28, 2026

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil
Published on: July 29, 2020
Added Sugar Intake Is Associated with Altered Plasma miR-143-5p and miR-223-3p Expression and Fasting Glucose
Alejandro Castañeda-López1, María F Velázquez-Rodríguez2, Leonor Jacobo-Albavera3
1Unidad de Investigación Médica en Bioquímica, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Mexico City 06720, Mexico.
Abstract:
Background: Childhood obesity is a growing health concern and added sugar intake has been associated with increased obesity risk. Emerging evidence suggests that miR-143-5p and miR-223-3p are involved in metabolic regulation. Therefore, this study evaluated their plasma expression according to added sugar intake and their association with cardiometabolic risk parameters. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 91 children aged 6-12 years, comprising 44 with normal weight and 47 with overweight/obesity. Anthropometric measurements, clinical characteristics, and dietary added sugar intake were assessed. Plasma expression of miR-143-5p and miR-223-3p was quantified by RT-qPCR. Results: Compared with low added sugar intake, high added sugar intake was associated with lower plasma miR-143-5p expression and higher miR-223-3p expression. Both miR-143-5p and miR-223-3p expression levels were higher in children with overweight/obesity and insulin resistance than in their respective counterparts. In adjusted analyses, neither miRNA was associated with cardiometabolic risk parameters. However, added sugar intake was positively associated with miR-223-3p expression (β = 0.188, 95% CI: 0.022, 0.354) and glucose levels (β = 1.944, 95% CI: 0.133, 3.755). Conclusions: These findings suggest that higher added sugar intake is associated with altered circulating miRNA expression and higher fasting glucose concentrations in school-aged children.
Related Concept Videos
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones
Glucose Transporters
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
Hyperglycemia
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors
Acarbose and miglitol are typically...
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors