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The increase of fatty acid-binding protein aP2 in overweight and obese children: interactions with dietary fat and impact on measures of subclinical inflammation

International Journal of Obesity volume 32, pages 1513–1520 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

In adults, circulating aP2 may link obesity, inflammation and the metabolic syndrome, but there are few data in children. Experimental models support that dietary factors, particularly dietary fat, may be major determinants of phenotype.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to investigate, in normal, overweight and obese children, the relationships among aP2, the metabolic syndrome, inflammation and diet.

Design:

This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Northern Switzerland.

Subjects:

Subjects for this study were 6- to 14-year-old, prepubertal and early pubertal, normal weight, overweight and obese children (n=124).

Main outcome measures:

Body mass index (BMI), body fat percent, waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure, circulating aP2, fasting insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma lipids and dietary intakes of macro- and micronutrients were determined.

Results:

Circulating aP2 markedly increased with increasing central and total adiposity, and predicted measures of insulin resistance. Independent of BMI standard deviation scores and puberty, aP2 correlated with intake of the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E as well as circulating concentrations of CRP, leptin and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Children with lower aP2 concentrations consuming high-fat diets did not show an increase in fasting insulin or CRP, whereas those with higher aP2 concentrations showed marked increases in these measures with high intakes of fat or saturated fat.

Conclusions:

Increased central and overall adiposity in children are associated with higher circulating aP2 concentrations. In children with high dietary intakes of total fat and saturated fat, but not those with low intakes, higher aP2 concentrations are associated with measures of insulin resistance and inflammation.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the participating children and families, and special thanks to MT Achermann, H Seiler (University Hospital Zurich), RF Hurrell, K Hotz and C Zeder (ETH Zurich), I Hutter (Children's Hospital, St Gallen) as well as the staff from the Children's Hospitals in Biel and Basel. The study was financially supported by the Swiss Foundation for Nutrition Research (SFEFS, Zurich, Switzerland). Each of the authors contributed to the study design. IA, NB, MBZ, RL, GS and DA performed the fieldwork and the data collection. IA, NB, MBZ and GS, supervised the laboratory analysis and completed the data analysis. IA, NB and MBZ conducted the statistical analysis. The first draft of the paper was written by IA and MBZ. All authors edited the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Nutrition Laboratory, Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, Zürich, Switzerland

    I Aeberli, N Beljean & M B Zimmermann

  2. Department of Endocrinology Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

    I Aeberli, R Lehmann & G A Spinas

  3. Children's Hospital of Eastern Switzerland, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    D l'Allemand

  4. Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    M B Zimmermann

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  1. I Aeberli
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Correspondence to I Aeberli.

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Aeberli, I., Beljean, N., Lehmann, R. et al. The increase of fatty acid-binding protein aP2 in overweight and obese children: interactions with dietary fat and impact on measures of subclinical inflammation. Int J Obes 32, 1513–1520 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2008.128

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2008.128

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