The association between serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents: The CHAMPS-study DK

Abstract

Background and objectiveCardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes pose a global health burden. Therefore, clarifying the pathology of these risk factors is essential. Previous studies have found positive and negative associations between one or more cardiovascular risk factors and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) probably due to diverse methodological approaches when analysing peripheral BDNF levels. Moreover, only a few studies have been performed in youth populations. Consequently, the main objective of this study was to examine the association between serum BDNF and a composite z-score consisting of six cardiovascular risk factors. A secondary aim was to examine the associations between serum BDNF and each of the six risk factors.MethodsFour hundred and forty-seven apparently healthy adolescents between 11–17 years of age participated in this cross-sectional study. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), anthropometrics, pubertal status, blood pressure (BP), serum BDNF, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), blood glucose and insulin were measured. Information about alcohol consumption and socio-economic status was collected via questionnaires. Associations were modelled using linear regression analysis.ResultsSerum BDNF was positively associated with the composite z-score in the total study sample (standardized beta coefficient (std.β) = 0.10, P = 0.037). In males, serum BDNF was positively associated with the composite z-score (Std. β = 0.14, P = 0.034) and HOMA-IR (Std. β = 0.19, P = 0.004), and negatively associated with CRF (Std. β = -0.15, P = 0.026). In females, BDNF was positively associated with TG (Std. β = 0.14, P = 0.030) and negatively associated with waist circumference (WC) (Std. β = -0.16, P = 0.012).ConclusionSerum BDNF was positively associated with a composite z-score of cardiovascular risk factors. This association seems to be mainly driven by the association between TG, HOMA-IR and serum BDNF, and particularly for males. Further longitudinal research is warranted to determine the temporal relationship between BDNF and cardiovascular risk factors.

Changes in the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Are Associated with Improvements in Diabetes Risk Factors after Exercise Training in Adolescents with Obesity: The HEARTY Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The relationship between whole-body energy stores—particularly adiposity—and BDNF is less consistent in humans, especially in children and youth. In the current study, we did not observe any relationships between adiposity and BDNF levels, which is consistent with a recent sample of 447 healthy adolescents [ 45 ], whereas other studies have reported BDNF levels that are both lower [ 46 ] or higher [ 47 ] in youth with obesity compared to those without. Interestingly, Roth et al [ 47 ] observed that changes in serum BDNF were significantly correlated with changes in adiposity and leptin following a one-year lifestyle intervention targeting weight loss in adolescents with obesity, which appears to be consistent with the relationships found in animal models [ 30 ].…”

Physical activity in adolescents and children and relationship to metabolic health

“…Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein crucial for neuronal differentiation that is abundant in the hypothalamus and may have a role in cardiometabolic homeostasis. Among adolescents participating in a PA education program, Pedersen et al found a positive association between BDNF levels and cardiovascular risk score (41). There was less of an effect in females, potentially due to a correlation between BDNF and estrogen levels throughout the menstrual cycle.…”

Associations between serum and plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor and influence of storage time and centrifugation strategy

“…in serum and plasma), and 2) to determine any association between BDNF measured in serum, normal plasma (NP) and platelet-poor plasma (PPP). In addition, a large cohort study by Pedersen and colleagues reported that BDNF in serum was positively associated with cardiovascular risk factors 20 . Similar findings have been reported elsewhere 21–23 .…”