Prevalence of type 1 diabetes autoantibodies (GADA, IA2, and IAA) in overweight and obese children.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about the prevalence of beta-cell autoantibodies in children with excess body weight. The prevalence of type 1 diabetes autoantibodies and its relation with hyperglycemia was analyzed in 686 overweight/obese children and adolescents.


METHODS
All children underwent an oral glucose tolerance test, and anti-GAD, anti-IA2, and anti-IAA autoantibodies were measured. Autoantibody prevalence was evaluated in 107 normal-weight children for comparison.


RESULTS
A single autoantibody was present in 2.18% of overweight/obese subjects and 1.86% normal-weight subjects (P = NS). Postload glycemia was significantly higher in antibody-positive children (133 +/- 69.9 vs. 105.4 +/- 17.7 mg/dl, P < 0.0001) compared with autoantibody-negative subjects. No difference in autoantibody distribution was seen when our cohort was stratified by age, sex, SDS-BMI, pubertal stage, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).


CONCLUSIONS
The 2.18% prevalence of type 1 diabetes autoantibodies is similar to that reported in nonobese children. This study provided evidence that excess body weight and insulin resistance do not influence autoantibody frequency.
Cambuli
Valentina M
VM
Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Incani
Michela
M
Cossu
Efisio
E
Congiu
Tiziana
T
Scano
Francesca
F
Pilia
Sabrina
S
Sentinelli
Federica
F
Tiberti
Claudio
C
Cavallo
M Gisella
MG
Loche
Sandro
S
Baroni
Marco G
MG
D000293:Adolescent; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens