Childhood obesity: could homocysteine be the key?

#ChildHealth  #Metabolism  #VitaminB12  #Folate  #Homocysteine  #Obesity


Childhood obesity is a rapidly growing public health concern worldwide. According to the WHO, the number of overweight or obese children and adolescents has increased tenfold in recent decades. This rise is linked to lifestyle changes, including increased consumption of ultra-processed foods and decreased physical activity.

The balance between vitamin B12, folates, and homocysteine (Hcy) plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. These biomarkers are key players in DNA synthesis and protein metabolism. They also contribute to inflammation regulation, which is essential for children's growth and development.

However, in obese children, this balance appears to be disrupted. Hcy accumulation is associated with chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction—key factors in obesity. While these links are well-documented in adults, their impact on children remains poorly understood. Gaining a better understanding of these imbalances could help anticipate metabolic complications and improve the management of childhood obesity.

This study explores the impact of variations in vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine levels in obese and non-obese children and adolescents. Based on data from international studies, it aims to clarify their role in the metabolic complications of childhood obesity and identify potential strategies for more effective management.  

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Obesity and vitamins: a hidden imbalance?

A total of 20 studies, including 7,791 children and adolescents, were analyzed. Subgroup analyses examined variations based on study design, measurement methods, and geographic regions.

The study results show no significant difference in vitamin B12 levels between obese and non-obese children and adolescents, nor any notable difference in folate levels. However, obese children have significantly higher Hcy levels than their non-obese counterparts. These findings suggest that while vitamin B12 and folates do not vary with body weight, elevated Hcy in obese children could serve as a marker of metabolic stress and an increased cardiovascular risk.  

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Homocysteine: the silent enemy of childhood obesity?

Childhood obesity is a rapidly increasing global condition, with early metabolic and cardiovascular consequences. Among the many biological imbalances observed in obese children and adolescents, the metabolism of vitamin B12, folates, and homocysteine may play a key role, although their exact involvement remains uncertain.

One of the main challenges in studying these biomarkers is the variability of reported results in the literature. This inconsistency makes it difficult to identify reliable biological markers that could help better understand the underlying mechanisms of pediatric obesity and its complications.

The goal of this study was to analyze and synthesize the available data on these biomarkers to determine their impact on obesity and metabolism and to identify potential early risk factors.

The findings reveal a significant increase in Hcy levels in obese children. However, vitamin B12 and folate levels do not significantly differ between the studied groups. These results suggest that Hcy could serve as a relevant metabolic biomarker in childhood obesity, highlighting a potential link between obesity, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk.

This study has some limitations, including high heterogeneity among the analyzed research, methodological differences, and a lack of dietary and inflammatory data on participants. Additionally, the analysis does not assess biomarker changes over time. Beyond long-term monitoring, these results highlight the need for studies incorporating nutritional data to better understand the relationship between homocysteine, obesity, and metabolic risks. Identifying these interactions more precisely could help develop more effective prevention and management strategies. 

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