Association of Apelin Levels in Overweight-obese Children with Pubertal Development, but Not with Insulin Sensitivity: 6.5 Years Follow up Evaluation. (1st October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sentinelli, Federica; Bertoccini, Laura; Incani, Michela; Pani, Maria Grazia; David, Francesco; Bailett, Diego; Boi, Alessandra; Barchetta, Ilaria; Cimini, Flavia Agata; Mannino, Anna Camilla; Lenzi, Andrea; Cavallo, Maria Gisella; Loche, Sandro; Cossu, Efisio; Baroni, Marco Giorgio
• Is Part Of: Endocrine research. Volume 45:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 233
• Page End: 240
• Publication Date: 2020-10-01
• Subjects: Adipokines -- children -- adolescents -- body-weight -- longitudinal study -- Tanner; Endocrinology, Experimental -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; 616.4
• DOI: 10.1080/07435800.2020.1804929
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0743-5800

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: Obesity in youth is associated with increased risk of metabolic disorders. Adipose tissue hormones are involved in body-weight regulation. Among these, apelin is recognized as an insulin-sensitizer adipokine. Data on apelin levels in obese children and its relation to insulin-sensitivity are limited. Objective: We aimed to evaluate apelin levels in relation to obesity and insulin sensitivity in a large cohort of overweight/obese children and adolescents. Furthermore, these youths were reevaluated after a median 6.5 years of follow-up, thus allowing assessing changes in apelin levels in relation to increasing age and weight changes. Methods: Clinical data in 909 children and adolescents were collected between 2007 and 2010. Two hundred and one were reexamined at a median 6.5 years of follow-up. All subjects at baseline and at follow-up underwent an OGTT. Apelin levels were measured on sera by ELISA method. Results: At baseline, lower apelin levels were associated with increasing age and puberty (Tanner ≥II 0.67 ± 0.96 ng/mL vs. Tanner I 0.89 ± 1.13 ng/mL, p < .002), but not with body-weight. At follow-up, apelin levels in the 201 subjects reexamined were significantly lower than at baseline (0.45 ± 0.77 ng/mL at follow-up, 0.68 ± 0.95 ng/mL baseline, p < .001), confirming the effects of age and puberty. Body-weight did not affect apelin levels. Multiple regression analysis confirmed that sex and puberty were associated with lower apelin levels, independently from age and insulin-sensitivity. Conclusions: Apelin levels decrease significantly with pubertal development, whilst body-weight in children and adolescents did not determine changes in apelin. Reduced levels of apelin in children and adolescents may therefore represent a necessary response to maintain the "physiological" insulin resistance of puberty. Abbreviations : ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; G: glucose; BMI: Body mass index; DBP: Diastolic blood pressure; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; HDL-C: High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; HOMA-B: Homeostatic model assessment for beta-cell function; HOMA-IR: Homeostatic model assessment of insulin-resistance; INS: Insulin; ISI: insulin-sensitivity index; LDL-C: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; NW: normal weight; OB: obese; OGTT: oral glucose tolerance test; OW: overweight; SBP: Systolic blood pressure; TC: Total cholesterol; TGs: Triglycerides