The association of lecithin retinol acyltransferase and the 25(OH)D receptor with pediatric overweight and obesity

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2019 Dec;73(12):1626-1629. doi: 10.1038/s41430-019-0422-0. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine whether lecithin retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) as well as biomarkers of vitamin A (VA) and vitamin D are related to indices of obesity in childhood. A total of 164 children (aged 6-12 years, female 49.39%), comprising 66 children in the overweight/obese group and 98 children in the lean group, were included. LRAT expression was remarkably lower in the overweight/obese group than in the lean group (P < 0.01). Compared with the lean group, the overweight/obese group had elevated VA (0.95 ± 0.25 vs. 0.83 ± 0.21 µmol/L, P < 0.01). Moreover, the levels of 25(OH)D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) and its receptor were lower in overweight/obese subjects than in lean subjects (P = 0.06 and <0.05). LRAT was negatively correlated with body mass index and waist circumference (R = -0.27, P < 0.01, and R = -0.18, P < 0.05, respectively) and positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein (R = 0.18, P < 0.05). VA metabolism may be disordered in obese children, although children with obesity have higher VA levels than lean children.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acyltransferases / blood*
  • Child
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Overweight* / blood
  • Overweight* / epidemiology
  • Pediatric Obesity* / blood
  • Pediatric Obesity* / epidemiology
  • Receptors, Calcitriol / blood*
  • Vitamin A / blood
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood

Substances

  • Receptors, Calcitriol
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D
  • Acyltransferases
  • lecithin-retinol acyltransferase