title: Decreased plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its relationship with obesity and birth weight in obese Japanese children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays important roles in the central regulation of food intake and body weight control. However, little is known about the role of BDNF in childhood obesity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between plasma levels of BDNF and anthropometric factors, metabolic derangements due to obesity, adipocytokine levels and birth weight in obese Japanese children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six obese Japanese children aged from 5 to 15 years old were enrolled. The age-matched control group consisted of 32 non-obese healthy children. The plasma levels of BDNF and adipocytokines (leptin and adiponectin) were assayed using ELISA techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean BMI Z-scores were -0.67, +2.15 and +3.39 for the non-obese control children, obese (BMI ≥ 90th percentile, <99th percentile) and morbidly obese (BMI ≥ 99th percentile), respectively. The plasma levels of BDNF were significantly decreased in the morbidly obese children compared with the levels in the obese and non-obese control children (507 ± 33 pg/ml vs. 626 ± 46 pg/ml, 621 ± 35 pg/ml, p < 0.05). Univariate linear regression analysis showed that the plasma level of BDNF was positively correlated with birth weight (r = 0.264, p < 0.05) and inversely correlated with the BMI Z-score (r = -0.314, p < 0.05). Multivariate forward stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that the birth weight and BMI Z-score are independent predictors of the plasma BDNF level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The plasma level of BDNF, which is decreased in morbidly obese children, is associated with birth weight and the BMI Z-score. Our results suggest that BDNF may play important roles in the development and pathophysiology of childhood obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan. Electronic address:arashun@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukiyo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazushige
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dobashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Kohtaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asayama
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kusuhara
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D044466:Asian People; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000097:blood*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020738:Leptin