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Gender differences in TNF-α levels among obese vs nonobese Latino children

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 58, pages 696–699 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationships between TNF-α, obesity, and insulin resistance among prepubescent children.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting and subjects: Data were collected from 112 nondiabetic Latino schoolchildren from public schools in three South Florida communities. Of the enrolled participants, 43.8% were obese (BMI 95th percentile) and 51.8% presented with a family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). With one exception, all demonstrated normal glucose tolerance.

Interventions: Plasma TNF-α levels were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbance assay (ELISA). Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) was calculated as an index of insulin resistance. Mean levels of TNF-α among obese vs nonobese children were compared with a one-way analysis of variance with two groups, and the association between TNF-α and HOMA-IR was assessed with a Pearson's correlation.

Results: Higher circulating TNF-α levels were revealed among nonobese vs obese children. Nonobese girls demonstrated higher TNF-α levels than obese girls, whereas there were no significant differences for boys. There were no significant differences after stratifying for family history of T2DM. There was a modest relationship between increased TNF-α levels and decreased insulin resistance.

Conclusions: The observed elevated circulating TNF-α concentrations among leaner participants may reflect an inflammatory process that has been associated with higher levels of physical fitness in both adults and prepubescent children. This effect may remain stronger for prepubescent girls, and the mechanism may be attenuated by the hormonal changes that occur with the onset of puberty.

Sponsorship: This research was supported, in part, by a clinical research grant from the American Diabetes Association, as well as NIMH NRSA # 5T32 MH18917-09.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded in part by a National Research Service Award (NRSA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr Denise Dixon held an NIH NRSA postdoctoral fellowship with the University of Miami (#5T32 MH18917-09). We acknowledge Ms Espi Perez, RN, who assisted with the data collection phase of the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Miami Behavioral Medicine Research Center, USA

    D Dixon & N Schneiderman

  2. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Diabetes and Metabolism, Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, USA

    R Goldberg

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Mailman Center for Child Development, University of Miami School of Medicine, USA

    A Delamater

Authors
  1. D Dixon
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  2. R Goldberg
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  3. N Schneiderman
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  4. A Delamater
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Contributions

Guarantor: D Dixon.

Contributors: DD designed the component of the study related to the TNF findings, performed all of the cytokine assays and statistical analyses, interpreted the data, and wrote the manuscript. RG and AD were the primary investigators and designed the main study, obtained funding and ethical approval, supervised the running of the study, managed the data collection, contributed to the writing, and provided final approval of the manuscript. AD supervised the data entry and cleaning. AD, RG, and NS contributed to the interpretation of the data. NS obtained funding for the cytokine assays and contributed to the final approval of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to D Dixon.

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Dixon, D., Goldberg, R., Schneiderman, N. et al. Gender differences in TNF-α levels among obese vs nonobese Latino children. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 696–699 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601852

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