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Effects of aerobic exercise on obese children with metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Cao, Y, Zhu, L, Liu, J
Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM. 2021;(9):1069-1079
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is systemic metabolic disease that results from insulin resistance or obesity. Numerous meta-analyses have investigated the effect of exercise on different populations, but none were aimed at the effect of aerobic exercise alone on obese children. This review systematically assessed and performed a meta-analysis on the effect of aerobic exercise on obese children with MetS. CONTENT MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, SPORTDiscus, and the Cochrane library were searched and screened from inception to 20 October 2020 for randomized controlled trials. The inclusion criteria were obese children who met the criteria for MetS and aged 5-19 years old in an aerobic exercise group. The meta-analysis included eight trials with a total of 197 participants. Aerobic exercise significantly improved the waist circumference (mean difference [MD]=-3.97; 95% confidence interval [CI]=-6.12 to -1.83; p<0.01), body mass index (standardized MD [SMD]=-0.5; 95% CI=-0.70 to -0.29; p<0.01), triglyceride (SMD=-24.6; 95% CI=-33.85 to -15.35; p<0.01), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (SMD=2.36; 95% CI=0.44 to 4.27; p<0.01), and systolic blood pressure (SMD=-6.90; 95% CI=-10.46 to -3.35; p<0.01). SUMMARY Based on the results of this meta-analysis, during the intervention period of the included studies, aerobic exercise alone mainly affected the lipoprotein, blood pressure, and body dimensions but cannot completely cure the MetS of obese children. OUTLOOK The effects of different types of aerobic exercise on obese children with MetS and exercise dose to cure the MetS of obese children needs to be further studied.
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Cardiorespiratory fitness in children with overweight/obesity: Insights into the molecular mechanisms.
Plaza-Florido, A, Altmäe, S, Esteban, FJ, Löf, M, Radom-Aizik, S, Ortega, FB
Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports. 2021;(11):2083-2091
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES High cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) during adulthood. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the health benefits of high CRF levels at the early stage of life. This study aimed to analyze the whole-blood transcriptome profile of fit children with overweight/obesity (OW/OB) compared to unfit children with OW/OB. DESIGN 27 children with OW/OB (10.14 ± 1.3 years, 59% boys) from the ActiveBrains project were evaluated. VO2 peak was assessed using a gas analyzer, and participants were categorized into fit or unfit according to the CVD risk-related cut-points. Whole-blood transcriptome profile (RNA sequencing) was analyzed. Differential gene expression analysis was performed using the limma R/Bioconductor software package (analyses adjusted by sex and maturational status), and pathways' enrichment analysis was performed with DAVID. In addition, in silico validation data mining was performed using the PHENOPEDIA database. RESULTS 256 genes were differentially expressed in fit children with OW/OB compared to unfit children with OW/OB after adjusting by sex and maturational status (FDR < 0.05). Enriched pathway analysis identified gene pathways related to inflammation (eg, dopaminergic and GABAergic synapse pathways). Interestingly, in silico validation data mining detected a set of the differentially expressed genes to be related to CVD, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, inflammation, and asthma. CONCLUSION The distinct pattern of whole-blood gene expression in fit children with OW/OB reveals genes and gene pathways that might play a role in reducing CVD risk factors later in life.
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Telomere Length and Pediatric Obesity: A Review.
Azcona-Sanjulian, MC
Genes. 2021;(6)
Abstract
Obesity is a chronic disease, which needs to be early detected early and treated in order prevent its complications. Changes in telomere length (TL) have been associated with obesity and its complications, such as diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to summarize results of studies that have measured TL in children and adolescents with obesity. Fourteen studies aiming to assess TL in pediatric patients with either obesity or who were overweight were included in this review. In conclusion, obesity and adiposity parameters are negatively associated with TL. Shorter telomeres are observed in children with obesity compared with their lean counterparts. Factors involved in obesity etiology, such as diet and physical activity, may contribute to maintenance of TL integrity. In the long term, TL change could be used as a biomarker to predict response to obesity treatment.
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Gut microbiota associations with metabolic syndrome and relevance of its study in pediatric subjects.
Carrizales-Sánchez, AK, García-Cayuela, T, Hernández-Brenes, C, Senés-Guerrero, C
Gut microbes. 2021;(1):1960135
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Childhood obesity and T2DM have shown a recent alarming increase due to important changes in global lifestyle and dietary habits, highlighting the need for urgent and novel solutions to improve global public health. Gut microbiota has been shown to be relevant in human health and its dysbiosis has been associated with MetS, a health condition linked to the onset of relevant diseases including T2DM. Even though there have been recent improvements in the understanding of gut microbiota-host interactions, pediatric gut microbiota has been poorly studied compared to adults. This review provides an overview of MetS and its relevance in school-age children, discusses gut microbiota and its possible association with this metabolic condition including relevant emerging gut microbiome-based interventions for its prevention and treatment, and outlines future challenges and perspectives in preventing microbiota dysbiosis from the early stages of life.
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Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Obese Youth With Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes.
Scapaticci, S, D'Adamo, E, Mohn, A, Chiarelli, F, Giannini, C
Frontiers in endocrinology. 2021;:639548
Abstract
Currently, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent form of chronic liver disease in children and adolescents worldwide. Simultaneously to the epidemic spreading of childhood obesity, the rate of affected young has dramatically increased in the last decades with an estimated prevalence of NAFLD of 3%-10% in pediatric subjects in the world. The continuous improvement in NAFLD knowledge has significantly defined several risk factors associated to the natural history of this complex liver alteration. Among them, Insulin Resistance (IR) is certainly one of the main features. As well, not surprisingly, abnormal glucose tolerance (prediabetes and diabetes) is highly prevalent among children/adolescents with biopsy-proven NAFLD. In addition, other factors such as genetic, ethnicity, gender, age, puberty and lifestyle might affect the development and progression of hepatic alterations. However, available data are still lacking to confirm whether IR is a risk factor or a consequence of hepatic steatosis. There is also evidence that NAFLD is the hepatic manifestation of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). In fact, NAFLD often coexist with central obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, which represent the main features of MetS. In this Review, main aspects of the natural history and risk factors of the disease are summarized in children and adolescents. In addition, the most relevant scientific evidence about the association between NAFLD and metabolic dysregulation, focusing on clinical, pathogenetic, and histological implication will be provided with some focuses on the main treatment options.
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Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome in Children.
Tagi, VM, Samvelyan, S, Chiarelli, F
Hormone research in paediatrics. 2020;(4):215-225
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Although metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children and adolescents is a frequently discussed topic in the literature, uniform guidelines on its definition and treatment are still lacking. Insulin resistance, central obesity, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension are commonly considered the main components of MetS. The first recommended approach to all these pathological conditions in children and adolescents is lifestyle intervention (diet and physical exercise); however, in some selected cases, a pharmacological or surgical treatment might prove useful for the prevention of metabolic and cardiovascular complications. The aim of this review is to present the more recent evidence about the treatment of the major components of MetS in children and adolescents, focussing on the current recommendations concerning lifestyle changes, available drugs, and bariatric surgery.
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Common genetic variation in obesity, lipid transfer genes and risk of Metabolic Syndrome: Results from IDEFICS/I.Family study and meta-analysis.
Nagrani, R, Foraita, R, Gianfagna, F, Iacoviello, L, Marild, S, Michels, N, Molnár, D, Moreno, L, Russo, P, Veidebaum, T, et al
Scientific reports. 2020;(1):7189
Abstract
As the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children and young adults is increasing, a better understanding of genetics that underlie MetS will provide critical insights into the origin of the disease. We examined associations of common genetic variants and repeated MetS score from early childhood to adolescence in a pan-European, prospective IDEFICS/I.Family cohort study with baseline survey and follow-up examinations after two and six years. We tested associations in 3067 children using a linear mixed model and confirmed the results with meta-analysis of identified SNPs. With a stringent Bonferroni adjustment for multiple comparisons we obtained significant associations(p < 1.4 × 10-4) for 5 SNPs, which were in high LD (r2 > 0.85) in the 16q12.2 non-coding intronic chromosomal region of FTO gene with strongest association observed for rs8050136 (effect size(β) = 0.31, pWald = 1.52 × 10-5). We also observed a strong association of rs708272 in CETP with increased HDL (p = 5.63 × 10-40) and decreased TRG (p = 9.60 × 10-5) levels. These findings along with meta-analysis advance etiologic understanding of childhood MetS, highlighting that genetic predisposition to MetS is largely driven by genes of obesity and lipid metabolism. Inclusion of the associated genetic variants in polygenic scores for MetS may prove to be fundamental for identifying children and subsequently adults of the high-risk group to allow earlier targeted interventions.
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[Phenotype proposal for early diagnosis of possibility of metabolic syndrome in school children aged 6 to 15 years].
Aguirre Palacios, FA, Aguirre Caamaño, MF, Celis, G
Hipertension y riesgo vascular. 2020;(3):115-124
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) continue to be a problem at a socioeconomic level, causing high morbidity and mortality in the adult population. Prevention of risk factors should be carried out from an early age. Currently, there is no consensus on the opportune moment to start an intervention or treatment, regarding metabolic syndrome. The objective of the study is to describe the phenotype to predict early diagnosis of metabolic syndrome in schoolchildren. MATERIAL AND METHODS Observational, prospective, cross-sectional and analytical study in schoolchildren from 6 to 15 years old, conducted in Guayaquil. Anthropometric measurements and a survey were performed, obtaining signing informed consent. The IBM Watson artificial intelligence (AI) platform with its software Modeler Flow, were used for the analysis. RESULTS A population of 1025 students between 6 and 15 years old (mean of 12 years for men and 13 years for women) was examined, of whom 62.3% were men and 37.7% women. 23.9% of the population was overweight and 14% obese. A greater tendency to weight alteration was observed in men than in women (51.37% vs 47.79%), and a lower waist circumference in men (85 cm vs 87 cm, respectively). Males had a higher level of systolic blood pressure (SBP), being within the 90th percentile (mean SBP of 123 mmHg) 61.2%, compared to 38.8% of women, with a p < 0.001. Sedentary lifestyle is similar in both groups, with an average of 4.79 hours in front of the screen and/or video games. A statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between SBP and the waist/height ratio (WHtR) in the 90th percentile and 95th percentile (X2 9.075, p < 0.028, and X2 23,54, p < 0,000 respectively), as well as a relationship between 95th percentile and sex (X2 11.57, p < 0.001). The Modeler Flow software showed us that if WHtR, > 0.46, weight > 56.1 kg and height > 1.61 m, the probability of presenting metabolic syndrome, was of 82.4%. The statistic of this study has a predictive accuracy of 90% (error deviation of 0.009). The importance in the predictors of metabolic syndrome, range from 97.57% to 100%. CONCLUSIONS A prevalence of 33.9% of metabolic syndrome was observed in schoolchildren from 6 to 15 years old, with pathological cut-off points of: WHtR > 0.46, weight > 56.1 kg, pure sedentary lifestyle > 3 hours in front of the screen/playing video games, and SBP within the 90th percentile (> 123 mmHg). With these four indicators, we can predict a probability of early diagnosis of metabolic syndrome of 97% to 100%.
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Impact of a Three-Week in-Hospital Multidisciplinary Body Weight Reduction Program on Body Composition, Muscle Performance and Fatigue in a Pediatric Obese Population with or without Metabolic Syndrome.
Rigamonti, AE, Tringali, G, Micheli, R, Col, A, Tamini, S, Saezza, A, Cella, SG, Sartorio, A
Nutrients. 2020;(1)
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome is a combination of cardiometabolic risk factors, frequently detected in obese children and adolescents. To date, few clinical studies have evaluated the effectiveness of multidisciplinary body weight reduction programs on body mass index, body composition, muscle performance and fatigue in pediatric obese subjects suffering from metabolic syndrome, which might represent a sub-population that is more difficult to be treated and worthy of more intensive interventions than a population less metabolically complicated. The aim of the present study was to compare the impact of a three-week in-hospital multidisciplinary integrated body weight reduction program (BWRP) on body mass index (BMI), body composition (particularly, fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM)), motor control (evaluated by one-leg standing balance (OLSB) test), muscle performance (evaluated by the stair climbing test (SCT)) and fatigue (evaluated by fatigue severity scale (FSS)) in a pediatric obese population with or without metabolic syndrome. A pediatric population of 548 obese subjects without metabolic syndrome (F/M = 312/236; age range: 8-18 years; BMI: 36.3 ± 6.7 kg/m2) and 96 obese subjects with metabolic syndrome (F/M = 53/43; age range: 9-18 years; BMI: 38.3 ± 6.9 kg/m2) was recruited. The BWRP significantly reduced BMI, FM (expressed as %), SCT time and FSS score, and increased OLSB time in all subgroups of obese subjects, independent of sex and metabolic syndrome, with preservation of FFM. No significant differences in |ΔBMI|, |ΔFM|, |ΔOLSB| or |ΔSCT| times and |ΔFSS| score were found when comparing subjects (males and females) with or without metabolic syndrome, apart from obese females without metabolic syndrome, who exhibited a lower weight loss and FM (expressed as %) reduction when compared to the corresponding male counterpart. In conclusion, the beneficial effects of a three-week BWRP on BMI, body composition, muscle performance and fatigue in a pediatric obese population were not found to be different in patients with or without metabolic syndrome, thus indicating that the more metabolically compromised patient is as responsive to a short-term BWRP as the patient without metabolic syndrome. More prolonged follow-up studies are, however, necessary in order to verify whether the adherence to the multidisciplinary recommendations at home and the long-term maintenance of the positive effects in the two subgroups of patients will remain similar or not.
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Gender-based differences in the clustering of metabolic syndrome factors in children and adolescents.
Calcaterra, V, Larizza, D, De Silvestri, A, Albertini, R, Vinci, F, Regalbuto, C, Dobbiani, G, Montalbano, C, Pelizzo, G, Cena, H
Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM. 2020;(2):279-288
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Background We depicted gender-differences in metabolic syndrome (MS) clustering before and after puberty in pediatrics, in order to develop gender specific preventive strategies for childhood obesity. Methods We considered 1079 children and adolescents (529 females and 550 males; mean age 11.5 ± 2.8 year). According to body mass index (BMI) percentiles the subjects were classified as normal weight BMI <75th, overweight BMI 75-95th and with obesity BMI >95th. MS was diagnosed when three of the following criteria for age and sex percentiles were met: BMI >95th, triglycerides (TGs) level >95th, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) level <5th, blood pressure (blood pressure) >95th percentile, fasting blood glucose (FBG) >100 mg/dL and/or homeostatic model assessment- insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) >97.5th percentile. Results The prevalence of dismetabolic factors was similar in both genders, except for pathological BP, which was higher in males (p = 0.02). MS was detected only in patients with obesity, with a higher prevalence in pubertal than late/post-pubertal subjects (p < 0.001), without any significant difference between gender. In pre-puberty, the most common MS combination was obesity (HBMI) + hypertension (HBP) + hyperglycemia/insulin resistance (HGLY/IR) followed by HBMI + low HDL-levels (LHDL) + HGLY/IR versus HBMI + HBP + HGLY/IR followed by HBMI + HBP + LHDL, respectively, in females and males. In the early and late/post-pubertal periods, the most prevalent combination remained similar to pre-puberty, additionally in both sexes other combinations, such as HBMI + HTG + HBP + HGLY/IR, HBMI + HBP + LHDL + HGLY/IR, HBMI + HTG + LHDL + HGLY/IR and HBMI + HTG + LHDL + HBP + HGLY/IR were also detected, differently distributed in males and females. Conclusions We confirm that MS is an important consequence related to obesity, particularly in the post-puberty stage. Some gender-based differences should be considered early in order to identify specific preventive and treatment strategies.