Metabolic Disease Risk in Children by Salivary Biomarker Analysis

Abstract

ObjectiveThe study of obesity-related metabolic syndrome or Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in children is particularly difficult because of fear of needles. We tested a non-invasive approach to study inflammatory parameters in an at-risk population of children to provide proof-of-principle for future investigations of vulnerable subjects.Design and MethodsWe evaluated metabolic differences in 744, 11-year old children selected from underweight, normal healthy weight, overweight and obese categories by analyzing fasting saliva samples for 20 biomarkers. Saliva supernatants were obtained following centrifugation and used for analyses.ResultsSalivary C-reactive protein (CRP) was 6 times higher, salivary insulin and leptin were 3 times higher, and adiponectin was 30% lower in obese children compared to healthy normal weight children (all P<0.0001). Categorical analysis suggested that there might be three types of obesity in children. Distinctly inflammatory characteristics appeared in 76% of obese children while in 13%, salivary insulin was high but not associated with inflammatory mediators. The remaining 11% of obese children had high insulin and reduced adiponectin. Forty percent of the non-obese children were found in groups which, based on biomarker characteristics, may be at risk for becoming obese.ConclusionsSignificantly altered levels of salivary biomarkers in obese children from a high-risk population, suggest the potential for developing non-invasive screening procedures to identify T2D-vulnerable individuals and a means to test preventative strategies.

The Pediatric Obesity Epidemic and the Role of the Corporation: Why Work Conditions and Faith in Meritocracy Matter

“…Thus, in emerging economies, pediatric obesity is associated with an expanding middle class, as a history of scarcity gives way to more plentiful foods that are caloric but nutritionally ineicient, which are often globally sourced [7]. Consider some examples: Childhood obesity in Kuwait is increasing rapidly as wealthy children are frequently ofered fast food as a fashionable treat, which has prompted the government to explore new diagnostic tools [8]. New wealth in "angalore, combined with call center jobs that involve long periods of sedentary work, is raising the incidence of obesity-related health problems [9].…”

“…"iological propensities include a mix of factors that make some children more vulnerable to obesity and its correlates. Speciically, a child's "inlammatory proile" may indicate varying levels of severity of obesity and likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes [8].…”

“…Overall, the role of unresolved, chronic inlammation [57] in understanding childhood health risks [8] and racial disparities [56,58] is gaining atention. The quest to characterize structural factors in addition to individual behaviors requires a shift in mindset.…”

Immune biomarkers in the spectrum of childhood noncommunicable diseases

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Usefulness of Saliva Samples for Biomarker Studies in Radiation Research

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