Abstract

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) was traditionally viewed as an adult-onset disease. However, over the last two decades, and as consequence of childhood obesity, its incidence in children is rising. The risk of cardiovascular complications and mortality is higher when the insulin resistance syndrome onset occurs in childhood rather than in adults, due to the longer duration of hyperglycemic exposure.

Lifestyle intervention programs are the most effective in the treatment of childhood obesity. Moreover, this type of interventions has proven to be effective decreasing the rate of the progression from prediabetes to T2D in adults.

The microRNAs act as regulators of the gene expression and are involved in several aspects of glucose and lipid metabolism associated with the pathogenesis and progress of obesity and T2D. Their easy access from body fluids and their disease-specific expression render them a potential source of clinical biomarkers of obesity and T2D. MicroRNAs reflect the adaptations to physiological or environmental changes, and therefore, their measurement present also an opportunity to evaluate biological changes after a lifestyle intervention for the prevention or treatment of T2D and metabolic disorders associated. However, there is scarce evidence on the identification of microRNAs as biomarkers of obesity and T2D in children and their response to a multidisciplinary intervention program including exercise.

Study aims

The main objectives of the PREDIKID project are to evaluate the effect of a multidisciplinary family-based lifestyle intervention including supervised exercise on the insulin resistance syndrome and to identify the profile of circulating microRNA in children with a high risk of developing T2D and its response to the intervention program.

Current state

Analysis of biological samples, data analysis and preparation of publications

Funding

The current project was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Competitiveness (DEP2016-78377-R).

UCEENS researchers

Idoia Labayen Goñi

idoia.labayen@unavarra.es

Maddi Oses

maddi.oses@unavarra.es

Lide Arenaza

lide.arenaza@unavarra.es

María Medrano

maria.edrano@unavarra.es

Funded amount

108.900 €

Dates

2016-2020

Publications

1. Arenaza L, Medrano M, Oses M, Huybrechts I, Diez I, Henriksson H, Labayen I. Dietary determinants of hepatic fat content and insulin resistance in children with overweight/obesity: A cross-sectional analysis of the PREDIKID study. British Journal of Nutrition, 2019; 121(10): 1158-1165.
2. Labayen I, Ruiz JR, Arezana L, Medrano M, Tobalina I, Gracia-Marco L, Ortega FB, Rodríguez-Vigil B. Hepatic fat content and bone mineral density in children with overweight/obesity. Pediatric Research, 2018;84(5):684-688.
3. Arenaza L, Medrano M, Amasene M, Rodríguez-Vigil B, Díez I, Graña M, Tobalina I, Maiz E, Arteche E, Larrarte E, Huybrechts I, Davis CL, Ruiz JR, Ortega FB, Margareto J, Labayen I. Prevention of diabetes in overweight/obese children through a family based intervention program including supervised exercise (PREDIKID project): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 2017;18(1): 372.