Circulating adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein, juvenile obesity, and metabolic syndrome

• Published in: Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM Vol. 24; no. 11-12; p. 921
• Main Authors: Krzystek-Korpacka, Malgorzata, Patryn, Eliza, Bednarz-Misa, Iwona, Mierzchala, Magdalena, Hotowy, Katarzyna, Czapinska, Elzbieta, Kustrzeba-Wojcicka, Irena, Gamian, Andrzej, Noczynska, Anna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 2011
• Subjects: Adipocytes - metabolism; Adolescent; Biomarkers - blood; Case-Control Studies; Child; Cohort Studies; Diet, Reducing; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins - blood; Female; Humans; Hyperinsulinism - metabolism; Male; Metabolic Syndrome - diagnosis; Metabolic Syndrome - diet therapy; Metabolic Syndrome - metabolism; Obesity - diet therapy; Obesity - metabolism; Overweight - diet therapy; Overweight - metabolism
• ISSN: 0334-018X
• DOI: 10.1515/JPEM.2011.323

Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) links obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and might be targeted in future therapies. Its utility as a MetS biomarker has been suggested in adults but has not been examined in children/adolescents. Our objectives were to identify metabolic parameters associated with A-FABP elevation in children and adolescents and to evaluate the effect of obesity intervention and A-FABP diagnostic utility. A-FABP and anthropometric, metabolic, and inflammatory indices were measured in 31 lean and 114 overweight/obese children and adolescents and reassessed after obesity intervention (1 year; diet and enhanced physical activity, with or without metformin). A-FABP was significantly higher in overweight/ obese than lean individuals, where it correlated with insulin, waist circumference (WC), and 2-h glucose independent of body mass index (BMI), age, gender, and developmental stage. The pattern of A-FABP associations differed between sexes. As a MetS indicator, A-FABP had 68% accuracy. The weight reduction program was effective in reducing A-FABP, BMI%, WC, triglycerides, and cholesterol. In conclusion, elevation in A-FABP is associated with MetS components independent of BMI status and can be reduced by diet and enhanced physical activity. A-FABP as a single MetS biomarker has a moderate accuracy.