ESPE Abstracts

Background: Secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (Sfrp5) is a relatively novel adipokine with anti-inflammatory properties. Recent evidence suggests that it plays a role in obesity and its metabolic complications. However, data on Sfrp5 regulation in relation to obesity in children are scarce.

Objective: To investigate the effect of a 1-year personalized, comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, lifestyle intervention program of diet, sleep and exercise in Sfrp5 concentrations in children and adolescents with obesity, overweight and normal body mass index (BMI), and to explore its relation to metabolic complications associated with obesity.

Patients and Methods: One hundred and twenty (n = 120) children and adolescents (mean age± SE: 11.48±0.25 years; 48 prepubertal, 72 pubertal; 74 males and 46 females) attending our Center for the Prevention and Management of Childhood Obesity were studied prospectively before and after the implementation of a personalized, lifestyle intervention program of diet, sleep and physical exercise for 1 year. Based on BMI, subjects were classified as having morbid obesity (n = 63, 52,5%), obesity (n = 21, 17.5%), overweight (n = 22, 18.33%) or normal BMI (n = 14, 11.67%) according to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-off points.

Results: There was a significant improvement in anthropometric measurements (BMI, BMIz score, diastolic blood pressure, WHR, WHtR), body composition parameters, hepatic enzymes, lipid profile, inflammatory markers and insulin sensitivity (HOMA index) in all patients following the 1-year lifestyle intervention. Sfrp5 decreased in all subjects with obesity (P <0.01), however, it increased significantly (P <0.05) in patients with morbid obesity. Linear regression analysis indicated that glucose concentration (b= 0.208, P < 0.05) was the best positive predictor of ΔSfrp5.

Conclusion: Sfrp5 is related to severe obesity and is increased following weight loss in children and adolescents with morbid obesity. Further studies are required to delineate the role of Sfrp5 in childhood obesity and its metabolic complications.