Effect of Mixed‐Carotenoid Supplementation and Physical Activity on Irisin and Adiponectin: A 6‐Month Double Blind Placebo‐Controlled Pilot Study in Children with Obesity

Abstract

BodyShort term supplementation with mixed‐carotenoids (MCA) and physical activity reduces the accrual of abdominal subcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT) in children with obesity. Presumptive mechanisms may involve the induction of thermogenic beigeing and myo‐adipocytokines such as irisin, high‐molecular weight adiponectin (HMW‐ADI) and leptin.Method and DesignOf the 20 obese children recruited (Age = 126 ± 5 months), 17 completed a randomized double blind placebo controlled study involving one hour of physical activity for 10‐days of intense life‐style intervention followed by 6 months of usual lifestyle. Patients were randomized to MCA (Jarrow Formulas CaroteneAll®)5000 IU of beta‐carotene (BC) and alpha carotene; 20 mg of lutein; 4 mg of zeaxanthin, 20 mg of lycopene; 1000 mcg of astaxanthin; and 20 mg of gamma tocopherol vs. placebo at entry and were sampled at baseline, three weeks and 6 months. BC measured by HPLC, leptin measured by RIA and HMW‐adiponectin and irisin were measured by ELISA. The percent change in visceral (vWAT) and scWAT was determined by quantitative cross‐sectional multi‐slice MRI (1.5‐T; GE Medical Systems) at baseline and 6 months.ResultsBC was inversely related to BMI Z‐score, vWAT and scWAT (p<0.05 for all). Supplementation resulted in 95 ± 66% increase in BC at 6 months as compared to 3 ± 19% decrease in the placebo group (p=0.001). Pair‐wise comparisons for treatment effects based on estimated marginal mean ± SEM showed there was a 4.1±1.7 ng/mL (p=0.033) increase in irisin at three weeks and a 4.8±1.8 ng/ml (p=0.018) increase in HMW‐adiponectin at six month between supplement and placebo groups after Bonferroni adjustments for age, gender and baseline BMI z‐score. There was a 4% decrease in mean scWAT by MRI in the supplement group (p=0.016) after six months.ConclusionMCA significantly increased irisin after 10 days of physical activity and HMW‐adiponectin after 6 months of supplementation as compared to placebo. These changes may contribute to the decrease in scWAT accrual at 6 months mediated by the induction of thermogenic beigeing signals. Further studies are warranted.Support or Funding InformationThe Players Center for Child Health at Wolfson Children's Hospital