Premium
Effect of Lifestyle Changes on Serum Retinol Binding Protein in Obese Children: A Randomized Controlled Study
Author(s) -
Balagopal Prabhakaran,
Altomare Astride,
George Donald
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a857-c
Subject(s) - medicine , insulin resistance , endocrinology , retinol binding protein , obesity , retinol binding protein 4 , insulin , diabetes mellitus , weight loss , inflammation , retinol , vitamin , adipokine
Recent studies in adults have suggested that obesity and insulin resistance are associated with elevated levels of serum retinol binding protein (RBP) and that a reduction in RBP improves insulin action. The potential role of RBP in insulin resistant obese children is unclear. In this study we measured serum RBP in obese and lean adolescents ( n =18) matched for age (>14 yrs< 18 yrs) and maturity stage (≥Tanner IV) at baseline and after a 3–month, randomized and controlled lifestyle intervention (only in obese subjects; n = 12). Serum RBP was significantly higher in the obese group compared to the lean group ( P =0.005) and showed correlations (all P < 0.05) with BMI (r=0.51), body fat (r=0.53), insulin (r= 0.70), HOMA‐IR (r=0.65) and inflammatory factors (r for CRP=0.57; r for IL‐6=0.49). Intervention reduced serum RBP levels by about 18% ( P = 0.01) and was accompanied by reductions in insulin and HOMA‐IR, fat mass and inflammatory factors. The data suggest that ( i ) alterations in RBP are evident early in the clinical course of obesity and are associated with obesity‐related insulin resistance and sub‐clinical inflammation in children; and ( ii ) the serum concentration of RBP is responsive to a simple lifestyle‐based intervention in obese adolescents. Long‐term studies are needed to better understand the role of RBP in the early development of CVD and diabetes in obese children.