Scientists are reporting that a new blood test focused on lipids may make it simpler to identify children who are at risk for complications related to obesity, such as type two diabetes, liver issues, and heart disease.
A recent study from King’s College London, published in Nature Medicine, uncovers a novel connection between lipids and metabolic diseases in children. This could act as an early warning mechanism for conditions like liver disease.
The researchers suggest that utilizing existing machines in hospitals that analyze blood plasma from infants could enable doctors to rapidly detect early indicators of disease in children, ensuring they receive appropriate treatment sooner.
These discoveries also challenge the prevailing belief that cholesterol is the primary contributor to obesity-related complications in children, as they highlight new lipid molecules that influence health risks like blood pressure without being solely linked to a child’s weight.
Lipids have typically been understood as fatty acids, classified as good or bad cholesterol, or triglycerides, which are fats commonly found in the bloodstream. However, recent investigations by the same research team indicate a more intricate picture.
Employing a chemical analysis technique known as mass spectrometry, the researchers have identified thousands of distinct lipid types in the body, each serving different purposes.
In their study, they evaluated the lipid profiles of 1,300 children with obesity. Following this, 200 of these children participated in the HOLBAEK-model program, a well-known lifestyle intervention for obesity in Denmark, for a period of one year.
Follow-up measurements revealed that in the intervention group, the levels of lipids associated with diabetes risk, insulin resistance, and blood pressure decreased, even though there were only minimal improvements in some children’s BMI.
Dr. Cristina Legido-Quigley, a leader in Systems Medicine at King’s College London and the principal author of the study, remarked, “For many years, scientists have categorized lipids as good or bad cholesterol. However, with this straightforward blood test, we can now evaluate a wider spectrum of lipid molecules that might be crucial early indicators of health issues. This could revolutionize how we assess individual disease risks and, by examining ways to modify lipid molecules in the body, we could potentially prevent metabolic diseases like diabetes entirely.”
While obesity remains a significant risk factor for conditions such as fatty liver disease, the research team aims for doctors to utilize these lipid measurements for proactive treatment of children who are at risk rather than just focusing on those who are slightly heavier than their peers.
Dr. Karolina Sulek, a study participant involved in analysis at the SDCC, stated, “Recognizing children at risk for these potentially fatal diseases early is essential. Our study emphasizes the pressing need for effective obesity management and encourages parents to approach their children’s health with more empathy, facilitating healthier weight loss.”
The next aims for the researchers include exploring how genetic factors influence lipid levels and their implications for metabolic diseases, as well as investigating how these lipid levels can be adjusted to enhance health outcomes.
