Abstract
Protein plays a crucial role in the growth and development of adolescents. However, being a secondary energy source, protein’s role in obesity has been sidelined. We examined whether intake of protein (total, animal, plant), branched-chain (BCAAs), and sulfur-containing (SCAAs) amino acids are associated with general body and central obesity and body composition in a cross-sectional study among healthy adolescents. Students aged 12–18 years old (n = 601) in schools near two major Adventist universities in California and Michigan provided dietary data via a validated web-based food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and anthropometric data during school visits. Intakes of total, animal, and plant proteins, and BCAAs and SCAAs were derived from FFQ data. We defined general body obesity with body-mass-index-for-age (BMIz) z-scores and central obesity with waist-to-height ratios (WHtR). After full adjustment for covariates, multiple regression analyses showed significant positive associations between intakes of total protein (β = 0.101, 95% CI: 0.041, 0.161), animal protein (β = 0.118, 95% CI: 0.057, 0.178), BCAAs (β = 0.056, 95% CI: 0.025, 0.087), and SCAAs (β = 0.025, 95% CI: 0.012, 0.038) with general body adiposity. Animal protein (β = 0.017, 95% CI: 0.001, 0.033) and SCAAs (β = 0.004, 95% CI: 0.000, 0.008) were also associated with central obesity. Total and animal protein and BCAA and SCAA were also significantly associated with fat mass. Our findings suggest that high protein intake may pose a possible detriment to adolescent health. Longitudinal and safety evaluation studies are recommended.
Highlights
The increasing rates of obesity are a global problem and continue to be a health hazard, in particular, among the youth
We independently looked at height-for-age z-scores (Htz) to find out whether linear growth was associated with protein intake in this group of adolescents
Our findings show that intakes of total and animal proteins and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and SCAAs were positively associated with general body adiposity and fat mass among our adolescent population
Summary
The increasing rates of obesity are a global problem and continue to be a health hazard, in particular, among the youth. In the United States, about 21% of adolescents are obese according to the 2015–2016. NHANES report [1], while about 33% of 6- to 18-year-olds are overweight [2]. 6- to 18-year-olds in the United States have been classified as abdominally obese [3]. These statistics are concerning given that body composition in adolescence often tracks into adulthood, thereby increasing the odds of remaining overweight or obese [4] or increasing cardiometabolic disease risk [5,6]. Abdominal/central obesity, which reflects visceral fat accumulation, is associated with mortality risk [7] and several comorbidities [8,9,10,11,12]. The development of obesity is Nutrients 2020, 12, 110; doi:10.3390/nu12010110 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients
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