The relationship between serum fatty acids and depressive symptoms in obese adolescents.

Depression and obesity are highly prevalent and are considered inflammatory pathologies; in addition, they are also associated with dietary patterns including types of fatty acids (FA). Changes in the FA composition in the brain are determined by changes in the content and quality of dietary and serum FA. The aim of this study was to verify the relationships between serum-free FA, inflammatory processes and depressive symptoms in obese adolescents. This was a cross-sectional study that analysed a database composed of 138 post-pubertal adolescents. Data regarding the depressive symptoms, body composition, glucose metabolism, lipid profile, FA profile, leptin concentration, as well as adiponectin, IL-A, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, C-reactive protein and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels of the subjects were collected. A total of 54·6 % of the adolescents presented with depressive symptoms, and there were positive correlations between depressive symptoms and serum saturated fatty acids (SFA) content, body fat, and inflammatory adipokines, such as leptin, IL-6, and the leptin/adiponectin ratio. Moreover, the content of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms, suggesting that eicosatrienoic acid (C20:2n6) and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (C20:3n-6) are independently associated with depressive symptom scores and can be critical predictors of poor mental health in humans. These results point to the relationship between SFA and depressive symptoms in obese adolescents. However, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the causality between dietary SFA and depression in obese individuals.

Association of Adipocytokines and Inflammatory Biomarkers with Blood Pressure in Adolescents: A Longitudinal Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Several cross-sectional, but few prospective, studies suggest that inflammation may be involved in the development of high blood pressure. We examined markers of inflammation for their associations with blood pressure levels over a two-year period in healthy adolescents. METHODS AND RESULTS: The sample comprised 406 adolescents (209 girls) aged 12-18 years in the LabMed Physical Activity Study were followed-up for 2 years. Anthropometric (weigh, height, BMI), markers of inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein, complement factors C3 and C4, fibrinogen, leptin and adiponectin) and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) were collected. Socioeconomic status, pubertal development, adherence to Mediterranean diet and cardiorespiratory fitness were measured for adjustment for potential confounders. Adjusted linear regression models revealed a significant association of Leptin/Adiponectin (L/A) Ratio (baseline) with systolic BP (ß = 0.120; p < 0.034) and with diastolic BP (ß = 0.125; p < 0.036) at follow-up (full adjusted model). Leptin was associated with systolic BP at follow-up (ß = 0.102; p < 0.038) after adjustment for systolic BP at baseline, height, pubertal stage, socioeconomic status, adherence to Mediterranean diet, cardiorespiratory fitness, however, not independently of BMI. CONCLUSION: L/A ratio was positively associated with systolic BP and diastolic BP even after adjusting confounding variables. Therefore, a higher misbalance between leptin and adiponectin (higher L/A ratio) early adolescence may exert a negative effect BP levels in late adolescence regardless of several confounders factors.

Weight loss probiotic supplementation effect in overweight and obesity subjects: A review.

Obese individuals present adverse changes in the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota, leading to alterations in energy balance, lipid metabolism, endocrine disturbances, and low-grade chronic systemic inflammation increases. Probiotic supplementation appears to change gut microbiota by decrease gut permeability, inflammation, and metabolic disorders, creating a promising environment to weight loss. This revision resumes the main findings of probiotic supplementation and weight loss that contributed to building the current background linking changes in gut microbiota profile and with obesity.

LEPR polymorphism may affect energy balance during weight loss among Brazilians obese adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Leptin is an adipokine released mainly by adipose tissue, with many functions including regulation of energy balance. However, little is known about the effect of LEPR polymorphism on orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides. Thus, the aim of the present study is to verify the influence of LEPR polymorphism (rs2767485) on serum orexigenic (NPY, MCH and AgRP) and anorexigenic (Leptin and α-MSH) neuropeptides levels among obese adolescents submitted to 1year of multicomponent weight loss therapy. METHODS: Seventy-six adolescents with obesity were enrolled in 1year of weight loss therapy including clinical, nutritional, psychological and exercise-related. Blood samples were collected to analyze neuropeptides (NPY, MCH, AgRP and leptin) and LEPR genotyping. Visceral fat was measured by ultrasound and body composition was measured by plethysmography. The parameters were measured at baseline and after one year. Adolescents were grouped according to genotype (TT or CT+CC group). Effect of the weight loss therapy was analyzed through ANOVA and Wilcox, according to normality. Statistic value was set at <0.05. RESULTS: C-allele carriers have the orexigenic neuropeptides (NPY, AgRP and MCH) levels statistically higher when compared with TT group, at baseline. Furthermore, TT group seems to respond better to the therapy by a greater delta on BMI. Indeed, the data suggest a concomitant increased of AgRP levels in CT+CC genotypes, after weight loss therapy. CONCLUSION: Both groups responded to the weight loss intervention, however wildtypes (TT) appear to respond to the intervention most optimally with C carries, where post intervention reduction in BMI was significantly greater in wildtypes. The leptin receptor polymorphism seems to affect neuroendocrine regulation of energy balance among adolescents with obesity.

The role of free fatty acids in the inflammatory and cardiometabolic profile in adolescents with metabolic syndrome engaged in interdisciplinary therapy.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate if interdisciplinary therapy can influence the cardiometabolic and serum free fatty acid profile. The second aim was to evaluate if there is an association between serum free fatty acids, inflammation and cardiometabolic biomarkers in obese adolescents with and without metabolic syndrome submitted to a long-term interdisciplinary therapy. The study involved 108 postpuberty obese adolescents, who were divided according to metabolic syndrome (MetS) diagnosis: MetS (n=32) and Non-MetS (n=76). The interdisciplinary therapy consisted of a 1-year period of nutrition, psychology, physical exercise and clinical support. After therapy, both groups improved metabolic, inflammatory (leptin, adiponectin, leptin/adiponectin ratio, adiponectin/leptin ratio and C-reactive protein) and cardiometabolic profile (PAI-1 and ICAM). Metabolic syndrome prevalence reduced from 28.70% to 12.96%. Both groups reduced myristic acid (C14:0) and increased docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n3), heneicosapentaenoic acid (HPA, C21:5n3) and arachidonic acid (C20:4n6). After adjustment for metabolic syndrome and the number of metabolic syndrome parameters, multiple regression analysis showed that changes in VCAM and PAI-1 were negatively associated with changes in cis-linoleic acid (C18:2n6c). Additionally, changes in trans-linoleic acid (C18:2n6t) were also positively associated with these biomarkers. Moreover, leptin and leptin/adiponectin ratio were negatively associated with changes in docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, C22:5n3) and stearidonic acid (SDA, C18:4n3). Adiponectin/leptin ratio was positively associated with docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, C22:5n3). Changes in adiponectin were positively correlated with changes in omega 3, such as heneicosapentaenoic acid (HPA, C21:5n3) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, C22:5n3). Results support that interdisciplinary therapy can control inflammatory and cardiometabolic profile in obese adolescents. Moreover, serum fatty acids can be influenced by lifestyle changes and are able to modulate these biomarkers.

[Waist circumference as a marker for screening nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in obese adolescents]. / Circunferência da cintura como marcador para triagem de doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica em adolescentes obesos.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between the degree of waist circumference (WC) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese adolescents of both genders, analyzed according to quartiles of WC. METHODS: Cross-sectional study that involved 247 obese adolescents aged 12-19 years. Mean values of the nutritional parameters and serum analyses were compared with the groups using the independent t-test. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship of the parameters studied. Chi-square test for trend was used to determine the relationship between the prevalence of the NAFLD and WC quartile by gender. RESULTS: NAFLD were presented in 60% of the study participants. Obese adolescents in the 3rd and 4th quartiles of WC presented higher prevalence of NAFLD when compared with that in the 1st quartile in both genders. The NAFLD patients had significantly higher values for body weight, BMI (body mass index), BAZ-score (BMI-for-age z-scores), total fat (% and kg), WC, visceral fat, insulin, insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, when compared with non-NAFLD obese adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented here suggest that an increase in WC can reliably predict the risk of NAFLD in obese adolescents. This is a low cost and easy-to-use tool that can help in screening in adolescents.

Linear and undulating periodized strength plus aerobic training promote similar benefits and lead to improvement of insulin resistance on obese adolescents.

The present study compares the effectiveness of three types of physical training for obesity control in adolescents submitted to a long-term interdisciplinary therapy. Forty-five post-puberty obese adolescents (15-18yo) were randomly placed in three different groups of physical trainings: aerobic training (AT n=20), aerobic plus strength training with linear periodization (LP n=13) and aerobic plus strength training with daily undulating periodization (DUP n=12). The body composition was evaluated by air-displacement plethysmography; the rest metabolic rate was measured by indirect calorimetry; serum analysis was collected after an overnight fasting. The most important finding of this study was that both LP and DUP groups improved lipid profile, insulin sensitivity and adiponectin concentration (p<0.01). The linear regression showed a negative association between delta (%) adiponectin and delta (%) insulin (p<0.05). Each group presented a significant reduction in body mass, body mass index and fat mass (kg) after short and long-term intervention (p<0.01). However, the AT group reduced the fat-free mass after short-term intervention (p<0.01) and enhanced protein oxidation (p<0.01), whereas only LP group was able to increase the fat-free mass and maintain the rest metabolic rate (RMR). There was a negative correlation between percentage of protein oxidation and RMR (r=-0.75) in all groups. The interdisciplinary therapy models that included aerobic plus strength training were more effective than only aerobic training to improve lipid profile and insulin sensitivity, as well as the inflammatory state by increasing adiponectin. In all groups were observed an improvement on anthropometric profile.