Childhood obesity and leucocyte telomere length.

Agaristi Lamprokostopoulou, George Moschonis, Yannis Manios, Elena Critselis, Nicolas C Nicolaides, Alketa Stefa, Eleni Koniari, Sarantis Gagos, Evangelia Charmandari

Journal: European journal of clinical investigation 2020;49(12):e13178

PMID: 31610015

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

Obesity in adulthood is associated with decreased leucocyte telomere length (LTL), which is associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus type 2. The aim of our study was to investigate whether increased body mass index (BMI) is associated with decreased LTL in children and adolescents, and to identify other risk factors of shorter LTL in this population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 919 Greek children aged 9-13 years (The Healthy Growth Study). Participants were classified as obese (n = 124), overweight (n = 276) or of normal BMI (n = 519). LTL was determined by monochrome multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Univariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were applied to determine the predictive factors of LTL.

RESULTS

Both overweight and obese children had significantly shorter LTL than their normal-BMI counterparts. Following adjustment for age, sex, total daily energy intake and average weekly physical activity (average total steps per day), increasing weight category was inversely associated with LTL in children and adolescents (β: -0.110 ± 0.035; P = .002).

CONCLUSION

Overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence are associated with shorter LTL, even following adjustment for potential confounding effects. Therefore, the increased BMI in childhood and adolescence may be associated with accelerated biological ageing and may have an adverse impact on future health in adulthood.

Address: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical Research, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.; Department of Dietetics, Nutrition and Sport, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, Athens, Greece.; Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, 'Aghia Sophia' Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.; Laboratory of Genetics, Center of Clinical Research, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.

DOI: 10.1111/eci.13178

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MeSH Terms: Adolescent, Aging, Body Mass Index, Case-Control Studies, Child, Female, Greece, Humans, Leukocytes, Linear Models, Male, Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction, Multivariate Analysis, Pediatric Obesity, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Telomere