ESPE Abstracts

Background: The role of retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) in the insulin resistance associated with obesity is still unclear and various studies have analyzed the role of its gene polymorphisms as a potential key to understanding the mechanisms involved.

Aim: The current study aimed to analyze the relationship between RBP4 levels, the distribution of two SNP (rs3758539 and rs10882280) and the metabolic, anthropometric parameters and body composition in obese vs. normal weight children.

Material and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on a sample of 213 children, age 5-18 years, divided in two groups according to body mass index (BMI) standard deviation scores (SDS): a group with overweight/obesity (BMI >1SDS) and a normal weight group (-1<BMI<1SDS) who were evaluated in the Endocrinology Department of the Mures County Hospital. Demographic data, body composition (bioimpedance analysis), metabolic profile (glucose, insulin, lipids, uric acids), and RBP4 level were evaluated in every subject. Additionally, 2 SNP of the RBP4 gene were analyzed (rs3758539 and rs10882280). The study was approved by the local ethics committee and all subjects and legal representatives signed an informed consent. Statistical analysis used SPSS v. 25 with a level of significance α=0.05.

Results: 130 overweight and obese and 83 age and sex matched normal weight children were included. None of the SNPs are associated with obesity, even after adjusting for sex. Levels of RBP4 negatively correlate with glucose levels (r= -0.178, P=0.022), but not after adjusting for age and sex. Body composition, metabolic profile and anthropometric parameters differ significantly between study groups. There were not statistically significant differences between groups regarding the RBP4 levels, albeit we found higher level in the obese group (13.1 vs 11.8 µg/ml, P=0.194).

Conclusions: RBP4 gene polymorphisms rs3758539 and rs10882280 are not associated with obesity in Romanian children. RBP 4 level is higher in obese children and correlates only with glucose levels.

Keywords: RBP4, obesity, children, SNP, Romania