New Biomarker in Saliva Identifies Childhood Obesity Risk

Rising Childhood Obesity Rates

A recent study has identified a biomarker in saliva that could aid in recognizing the risk of childhood obesity. The rates of childhood obesity are escalating globally. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the obesity rate among children in the United States increased from 13.9 percent in 2000 to 18.5 percent in 2016. This condition is associated with a heightened risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer later in life.

Limitations of Current Obesity Indicators

Currently, obesity risk is often assessed using basic markers like Body Mass Index (BMI). Interventions aimed at addressing childhood obesity typically commence only after a child’s BMI exceeds a certain threshold.

Study Overview

A study published in BMC Medical Genetics focused on identifying biomarkers that could facilitate earlier detection of childhood obesity risk compared to traditional BMI measurements. Saliva samples were obtained from children aged three to five years who participated in the Growing Right Onto Wellness (GROW) trial. At enrollment, none of the children were classified as obese, and saliva was chosen due to its non-invasive and easily accessible characteristics.

Study Design and Findings

Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one comprising children with obese mothers, designated as the intervention group, and the other serving as the control group. The study tracked over 600 parent-child pairs over a three-year period, during which the participants received behavioral interventions.

Findings revealed that a majority of children in the intervention group improved their nutritional habits, maintained their levels of physical activity, and achieved sufficient sleep compared to those in the control group. However, around 30 percent of children in the intervention group became obese by the end of the three years, underscoring the complex interplay between genetics, behavior, and health disparities.

Insights on Salivary Methylation

Prior research has indicated that methylation linked to a mother’s BMI and waist circumference was present at seventeen DNA sites in the saliva samples of trial participants. This suggests that the risk of obesity may be passed from mothers to their children. This study specifically investigated the relationships between salivary methylation and changes in children’s BMI over the three-year period. Results indicated that variations in methylation associated with the mother’s BMI, along with other behavioral factors, could help predict the risk of childhood obesity.

Significance of NRF1 Methylation

The study also identified that methylation of the NRF1 gene, which plays a role in adipose inflammation, is associated with childhood obesity. Children showing NRF1 methylation exhibited a threefold increase in the risk of obesity, indicating that this biomarker deserves further exploration regarding its involvement in obesity.

Implications for Early Intervention

The findings from this study suggest the presence of an epigenetic biomarker in saliva that may forecast childhood obesity before it becomes evident. Researchers stress that these insights are vital for understanding the risk factors linked to childhood obesity, potentially leading to the development of early intervention and prevention strategies.

References

Rushing A., Sommer EC, Zhao S et al. (2020). Salivary epigenetic biomarkers as predictors of emerging childhood obesity. BMC Medical Genetics. doi: 10.1186/s12881-020-0968-7
Biomarker in saliva predicts childhood obesity risk. (2020, March 6). Retrieved from https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-03/vumc-bis030620.php
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