Adiponectin, acylation stimulating protein and complement C3 are altered in obesity in very young children.
OBJECTIVE
Childhood obesity is increasing worldwide. This, in turn, is associated with chronic disease risk factors including hyperlipidaemia. The aim of the present study was to examine adiponectin, acylation-stimulating protein (ASP) and its precursor, complement C3, in very young obese and nonobese children and the corresponding associations with plasma lipid and lipoproteins. All three adipose tissue secreted factors are involved in fat metabolism, and little is known of the levels in very young children.


METHODS
A total of 124 healthy children from 2 to 6 years old were evaluated for weight, height, plasma lipids and adipokines. Based on percentage ideal body weight (%IBW), 60 children were nonobese and 64 were overweight/obese.


RESULTS
ASP and C3 were significantly increased (P = 0.0002 and P < 0.0001, respectively) in obese vs. nonobese, and this pattern held true when separated in three age groups: toddler (2-3 years), preschool (4-5 years) and primary school (6 years). By contrast, adiponectin was significantly decreased (P = 0.04). When separated based on a positive family history of obesity, ASP was increased (P = 0.005). Other than a small (23.4%) increase in plasma triglyceride, all other lipids [cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and nonesterified fatty acids] were normal. ASP, C3 and adiponectin were strongly correlated with %IBW (r = 0.515, P < 0.0001; r = 0.383, P < 0.0001; r = -0.211, P = 0.03, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in plasma adipokines are seen in very young obese children in the absence of lipid changes. These changes in ASP, C3 and adiponectin in very young obese children may predispose towards enhanced fat storage (ASP) and decreased fat oxidation (adiponectin) further driving the obesity profile.
Cianflone
Katherine
K
Mike Rosenbloom Laboratory for Cardiovascular Research, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. katherine.cianflone@mcgill.ca
Lu
Huiling
H
Smith
Jessica
J
Yu
Wen
W
Wang
Hongwei
H
D052242:Adiponectin; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis*; D015926:Complement C3a / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D003176:Complement C3; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; C044541:complement C3a, des-Arg-(77)-; D015926:Complement C3a