ESPE Abstracts

Background: Some neuropeptides and hormones, for instance dopamine, leptin and insulin can affect the food consumption, eating behavior and can lead to obesity. Research goal was to discover the gender differences, associations and joint influence on body weight of blood dopamine (DA), leptin (LP) and insulin (Ins) concentrations in obese children.

Material and methods: We discovered cross-sectional retrospective data of 216 11–17.9 y. old children (II–V Tanner stages), involved in the national obesity study. According to BMI SDS for age and sex, participants were split up into: normal weight healthy children (NW, ±1 SDS, n=30); I–II WHO obesity classes (I–II-OC, ≥2&≤4 SDS; n=84): III WHO OC (III-OC, SDS >4; n=102). Girls/boys (B/G) ratio was 112/104. DA, LP and fasting Ins concentrations, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and HOMA-IR indexes were analyzed using non-parametric methods, and binary logistic regression (P<0.05).

Results: Blood DA was higher in III-OC children than NW (P=0,003) and I-II-OC peers (P=0,01). The same pattern of DA changes was in III-OC B, compared to NW (P=0,008) and I-II-OC peers (P=0,001). LP concentrations raised from NW children (P1-2<0.001); through I-II-OC (P2-3=0.02) to III-OC peers (P1-3<0.001). The same serum LP changes had NW G (P1-2<0.001), I-II-OC (P2-3=0.001) and III-OC peers (P1-3<0.001). Ins and HOMA-IR were higher in I-II-OC (P<0.001 and P<0.001 prop.) and III-OC children (P<0.001 and P<0.001 prop.) in contrast to NW both gender peers. HOMA-IR values were elevated in III-OC than the I–II-OC children (P=0.023). Blood DA were associated with BMI (ρ=0.3; P<0,001), SDS BMI (ρ=0.3; P=0.002), Ins (ρ=0.3; P=0.005) and HOMA-IR (ρ=0.4; P<0.001) in both sexes. LP values were correlated with BMI (ρ=0.5; P<0.001), SDS BMI (ρ=0.5; P<0.001), Ins (ρ=0.3; P=0.039), and HOMA-IR (ρ=0.3; P=0.046), in G. We created math models with a high percentage of correct predicted values (86.6–90.4%) that allowed us to determine separate and joint influence on body weight of DA and LP concentrations in I-II-OC and III-OC children.

Conclusions: DA concentrations were associated with BMI, its SDS, Ins and HOMA-IR values in obese children particularly in boys (P<0.05). LP values were related to anthropometric and metabolic indexes mostly in girls (P<0.05). DA and LP combination seem to be significant predictors of childhood obesity, particularly the IIIrd WHO OC.