Epigenome-Wide Meta-analysis Reveals Associations Between Dietary Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load and DNA Methylation in Children and Adolescents of Different Body Sizes.

OBJECTIVE: Dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) are associated with cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents, with potential distinct effects in people with increased BMI. DNA methylation (DNAm) may mediate these effects. Thus, we conducted meta-analyses of epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) between dietary GI and GL and blood DNAm of children and adolescents. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We calculated dietary GI and GL and performed EWAS in children and adolescents (age range: 4.5-17 years) from six cohorts (N = 1,187). We performed stratified analyses of participants with normal weight (n = 801) or overweight or obesity (n = 386). We performed look-ups for the identified cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites (false discovery rate [FDR] <0.05) with tissue-specific gene expression of 832 blood and 223 subcutaneous adipose tissue samples from children and adolescents. RESULTS: Dietary GL was positively associated with DNAm of cg20274553 (FDR <0.05), annotated to WDR27. Several CpGs were identified in the normal-weight (GI: 85; GL: 17) and overweight or obese (GI: 136; GL: 298; FDR <0.05) strata, and none overlapped between strata. In participants with overweight or obesity, identified CpGs were related to RNA expression of genes associated with impaired metabolism (e.g., FRAT1, CSF3). CONCLUSIONS: We identified 537 associations between dietary GI and GL and blood DNAm, mainly in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity. High-GI and/or -GL diets may influence epigenetic gene regulation and thereby promote metabolic derangements in young people with increased BMI.

Substance use in childhood and adolescence and its associations with quality of life and behavioral strengths and difficulties.

BACKGROUND: Substance use in childhood and adolescence continues to be a current health concern. The aims of the present study were to identify trends in the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis in children and adolescents in the last 10 years and to assess associations between substance use and quality of life and behavioral strengths and difficulties. METHODS: Substance use was examined in 1829 9- to 18-year-old German children and adolescents participating in the LIFE Child cohort study between 2011 and 2020. Quality of life was investigated using the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire. The Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to assess behavioral strengths and difficulties. Associations were assessed using linear regression analyses. All effects were adjusted for age, gender, and family socio-economic status. RESULTS: 38.44% of participants reported drinking alcohol at least sometimes. Smoking (6.23%) and the use of cannabis (3.94%) were less frequent. While we observed no significant changes in smoking between 2011 and 2021, the consumption of cannabis and the frequent consumption of alcohol has increased in this time period. Cigarette and cannabis use were associated with additional symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention and reduced prosocial behavior. For all three substances, usage was associated with more conduct problems. We also found significant associations between substance use and a lower quality of life in the areas of physical wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, parent relation and autonomy, and school environment. One noteworthy finding was that cigarette consumption and frequent alcohol use were associated with higher quality of life in terms of social support/peer group relations. Some significant interactions between substance use and child age indicated that associations between substance use and quality of life or behavioral difficulties were stronger in younger than in older children. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that quality of life and behavioral difficulties are associated with substance use and should be considered when developing or implementing preventive measures to counter substance use. Furthermore, the findings indicate that substance use can be accompanied by improved peer relations. Therefore, the influence of peers, especially of peers who use these substances, should not be underestimated.

Parent-child agreement in different domains of child behavior and health.

AIM: The present study aimed to investigate and compare parent-child agreement in different domains of child health and behavior. METHODS: Data were collected between 2011 and 2019 within the framework of the LIFE Child study (Germany). Different subgroups of 10- to 12-year-old children and their parents (n (max) = 692) completed questionnaires on several health behaviors (diet, media use, physical activity, sleep), parameters of health (behavioral strengths and difficulties, psychosomatic complaints), and school grades. Agreement between child and parent reports was evaluated using weighted kappa coefficients. Furthermore, the frequencies of different types of (dis)agreement (parent report > child report, same response, child report > parent report) were assessed and checked for associations with child or parent gender. RESULTS: Agreement between child and parent reports varied from low to almost perfect, with the greatest levels of agreement for school grades and organized physical activity, and the lowest for dizziness, sleep duration, and the consumption of potatoes. Child gender had no significant effect on parent-child agreement. In contrast, the findings suggest that parent gender had some effect on agreement levels, with higher agreement for certain psychosomatic complaints when parent reports were completed by the mother, and higher agreement for white bread consumption if they were completed by the father. For some of the questionnaire items (especially those relating to behavioral difficulties and psychosomatic complaints, but also to the consumption of individual food products and mobile phone use), the type of (dis)agreement differed depending on child or parent gender. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the perceptions and reporting strategies of children and their parents can diverge considerably, in particular for behavior that is not easily observable or measurable.