GENOBOX study is a case-control multicentre cross-sectional design. Among all participants (N = 1699), current genetic analyses were performed in a subset population of 574 children (293 girls) who had good quality DNA samples.

Children were recruited at three Spanish health institutions: Lozano Blesa University Clinical Hospital in Zaragoza, Santiago de Compostela University Clinical Hospital in Santiago de Compostela and Reina Sofia University Clinical Hospital in Córdoba. Obesity status was defined according to BMI by using the age- and sex-specific cut-off points. Inclusion criteria were European-Caucasian heritage and the absence of congenital metabolic diseases. The exclusion criteria were non-European Caucasian heritage; the presence of congenital metabolic diseases (e.g., diabetes or hyperlipidaemia); undernutrition; and the use of medication that alters blood pressure, glucose or lipid metabolism.

This project has allowed us to find gene variants associated with the development of childhood obesity. Furthermore, variants in genes related to the antioxidant defense system have been discovered. The main results are summarized in the following scientific publications.

Scientific papers:

1. Evaluation of the Predictive Ability, Environmental Regulation and Pharmacogenetics Utility of a BMI-Predisposing Genetic Risk Score during Childhood and Puberty. Anguita-Ruiz A, González-Gil EM, Rupérez AI, Llorente-Cantarero FJ, Pastor-Villaescusa B, Alcalá-Fdez J, Moreno LA, Gil Á, Gil-Campos M, Bueno G, Leis R, Aguilera CM. J Clin Med. 2020 Jun 2;9(6):E1705. doi: 10.3390/jcm9061705.
2. Cluster Analysis of Physical Activity Patterns, and Relationship with Sedentary Behavior and Healthy Lifestyles in Prepubertal Children: Genobox Cohort. Leis R, Jurado-Castro JM, Llorente-Cantarero FJ, Anguita-Ruiz A, Iris-Rupérez A, Bedoya-Carpente JJ, Vázquez-Cobela R, Aguilera CM, Bueno G, Gil-Campos M. Nutrients. 2020 May 1;12(5):E1288. doi: 10.3390/nu12051288.
3. Energy Dense Salty Food Consumption Frequency Is Associated with Diastolic Hypertension in Spanish Children. Pérez-Gimeno G, Rupérez AI, Vázquez-Cobela R, Herráiz-Gastesi G, Gil-Campos M, Aguilera CM, Moreno LA, Leis Trabazo MR, Bueno-Lozano G.utrients. 2020 Apr 9;12(4):1027. doi: 10.3390/nu12041027.
4. X chromosome genetic data in a Spanish children cohort, dataset description and analysis pipeline. Anguita-Ruiz A, Plaza-Diaz J, Ruiz-Ojeda FJ, Rupérez AI, Leis R, Bueno G, Gil-Campos M, Vázquez-Cobela R, Cañete R, Moreno LA, Gil Á, Aguilera CM. Sci Data. 2019 Jul 22;6(1):130. doi: 10.1038/s41597-019-0109-3.
5. ANGPTL-4 is Associated with Obesity and Lipid Profile in Children and Adolescents. Barja-Fernández S, Folgueira C, Castelao C, Pena-León V, González-Saenz P, Vázquez-Cobela R, Aguilera CM, Gil-Campos M, Bueno G, Gil Á, Moreno LA, Ruiz-Piñon M, García-Palacios M, Casanueva FF, Diéguez C, Nogueiras R, Leis R, Seoane LM. Nutrients. 2019 Jun 14;11(6):1340. doi: 10.3390/nu11061340.
6. Effects of X-chromosome Tenomodulin Genetic Variants on Obesity in a Children’s Cohort and Implications of the Gene in Adipocyte Metabolism. Ruiz-Ojeda FJ, Anguita-Ruiz A, Rupérez AI, Gomez-Llorente C, Olza J, Vázquez-Cobela R, Gil-Campos M, Bueno G, Leis R, Cañete R, Moreno LA, Gil A, Aguilera CM. Sci Rep. 2019 Mar 8;9(1):3979. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-40482-0.
7. Cardiovascular risk biomarkers and metabolically unhealthy status in prepubertal children: Comparison of definitions. Rupérez AI, Olza J, Gil-Campos M, Leis R, Bueno G, Aguilera CM, Gil A, Moreno LA. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2018 May;28(5):524-530. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2018.02.006. Epub 2018 Feb 16.
8. Leptin Receptor Gene Variant rs11804091 Is Associated with BMI and Insulin Resistance in Spanish Female Obese Children: A Case-Control Study. Olza J, Rupérez AI, Gil-Campos M, Leis R, Cañete R, Tojo R, Gil Á, Aguilera CM. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Aug 3;18(8):1690. doi: 10.3390/ijms18081690.
9. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels of children are inversely related to adiposity assessed by body mass index. Barja-Fernández S, Aguilera CM, Martínez-Silva I, Vazquez R, Gil-Campos M, Olza J, Bedoya J, Cadarso-Suárez C, Gil Á, Seoane LM, Leis R. J Physiol Biochem. 2018 Feb;74(1):111-118. doi: 10.1007/s13105-017-0581-1. Epub 2017 Jul 25.
10. Association of genetic polymorphisms for glutathione peroxidase genes with obesity in Spanish children. Rupérez AI, Olza J, Gil-Campos M, Leis R, Mesa MD, Tojo R, Cañete R, Gil Á, Aguilera CM. J Nutrigenet Nutrigenomics. 2014;7(3):130-42. doi: 10.1159/000368833. Epub 2014 Dec 2.
11. Influence of FTO variants on obesity, inflammation and cardiovascular disease risk biomarkers in Spanish children: a case-control multicentre study. Olza J, Ruperez AI, Gil-Campos M, Leis R, Fernandez-Orth D, Tojo R, Cañete R, Gil A, Aguilera CM. BMC Med Genet. 2013 Dec 1;14:123. doi: 10.1186/1471-2350-14-123.
12. Paraoxonase 1 activities and genetic variation in childhood obesity. Rupérez AI, López-Guarnido O, Gil F, Olza J, Gil-Campos M, Leis R, Tojo R, Cañete R, Gil A, Aguilera CM. Br J Nutr. 2013 Nov 14;110(9):1639-47. doi: 10.1017/S0007114513001967. Epub 2013 Jun 21.
13. Are catalase -844A/G polymorphism and activity associated with childhood obesity? Rupérez AI, Olza J, Gil-Campos M, Leis R, Mesa MD, Tojo R, Cañete R, Gil A, Aguilera CM. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2013 Dec 1;19(16):1970-5. doi: 10.1089/ars.2013.5386
14. Influence of variants in the NPY gene on obesity and metabolic syndrome features in Spanish children. Olza J, Gil-Campos M, Leis R, Rupérez AI, Tojo R, Cañete R, Gil A, Aguilera CM. Peptides. 2013 Jul;45:22-7. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2013.04.007
15. Myeloperoxidase is an early biomarker of inflammation and cardiovascular risk in prepubertal obese children. Olza J, Aguilera CM, Gil-Campos M, Leis R, Bueno G, Martínez-Jiménez MD, Valle M, Cañete R, Tojo R, Moreno LA, Gil A. Diabetes Care. 2012 Nov;35(11):2373-6. doi: 10.2337/dc12-0614. Epub 2012 Aug 21.