The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the relationship between micronutrient status and obesity, lipids, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation in children. Weight, height, waist circumference and body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)) were determined in 197 school-aged children. Lipids, glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), zinc, iron and vitamins A, C and E were analyzed in blood. Vitamin C and vitamin E:lipids were negatively associated with Body Mass Index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHR) and body and abdominal fat (p < 0.05). Vitamin A was positively associated with BMI, BMI-for-age, WHR and abdominal fat (p < 0.05). Iron and vitamin E:lipids were negatively associated with insulin (p < 0.05). Vitamins A, C and E and iron were negatively associated with CRP (p < 0.05). Interaction analysis showed that children who were overweight and obese who also had low concentrations of vitamin A had higher CRP and lower triglycerides (p < 0.1), children with low vitamin E had significantly lower glucose and triglycerides (p < 0.1) and higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations (p < 0.05), and children with low zinc concentrations had higher insulin resistance compared with children with adequate weight (p < 0.05). In conclusion, low vitamin C concentration and vitamin E:lipids were associated with obesity. Furthermore, low concentrations of zinc, vitamins A and E in children who were overweight and obese were associated with lipids, inflammation and insulin resistance.

BackgroundThe prevalence of obesity among Mexican women is high and it could be related to micronutrient status. We evaluated in a cross-sectional study the associations of zinc and vitamins A, C and E concentrations with BMI, central adiposity, body fat and leptin concentration.MethodsWomen aged 37 ± 7.5 years (n = 580) from 6 rural communities in Mexico were evaluated. Anthropometric measurements included weight, height, waist and hip circumference. A fasting blood sample was taken for the analysis of glucose, lipid profile, leptin, zinc, and vitamins A, C and E. Body composition was determined by DEXA (Hologic Mod Explorer).ResultsThe prevalence of overweight and obesity was 36% (BMI > 25 Kg/m2) and 44% (BMI > 30 Kg/m2), respectively. Prevalence of zinc and vitamins C and E deficiencies were similar in obese, overweight and normal weight women. No vitamin A deficiency was found. Vitamin C was negatively associated with BMI, waist-to-height ratio, and leptin concentrations (p < 0.05). Vitamin A was positively associated with leptin (p < 0.05). When stratifying by BMI, % body fat and waist circumference, high leptin concentrations were associated with lower zinc and lower vitamin C concentrations in women with obesity (p < 0.05) and higher vitamin A concentrations in women without obesity (p < 0.01). Vitamin E status was not associated with any markers of obesity.ConclusionZinc and vitamins A and C are associated with obesity, adiposity and leptin concentration in women from rural Mexico, and may play an important role in fat deposition. The causality of these associations needs to be confirmed.

In order to design a feasible somatic cell gene delivery sysgogues. While glucose responsiveness commenced at a tem for the treatment of type I diabetes, a suitable cell type lower concentration than normal islets, a secretion curve needs to be determined. We have previously shown that approaching normal physiological conditions was generthe stable transfection of the full-length insulin cDNA into ated. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed the presence the human liver cell line, (HEP G2ins) resulted in synthesis, of insulin-containing granules, similar in size and appearstorage and acute regulated release of insulin to analogues ance to those of the normal beta cell. These results demof cAMP, but not to the physiological stimulus glucose. In onstrate that while it is most likely that the HEP G2ins/g attempting to explain the lack of glucose responsiveness cell line predominantly secretes insulin via the constitutive of the HEP G2ins cells we have stably transfected these pathway, significant acute regulated release was seen in cells with the human islet glucose transporter GLUT 2 response to glucose, and thus represents significant pro-(HEP G2ins/g cells). The HEP G2ins/g cell clones exhibit gress in the creation of a genetically engineered 'artificial glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and glucose potentibeta cell' from a human hepatocyte cell line. ation of the secretory response to nonglucose secreta-

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