Reduced serum vaspin concentrations in obese children following short-term intensive lifestyle modification

Abstract

Background Recently, visceral adipose tissue-derived serpin (vaspin) was identified as a potential insulin sensitizing adipokine, however, the factors determining the levels of circulating vaspin levels have not been fully understood. We investigated the association between adiposity, insulin resistance, lipid profiles and inflammatory markers including vaspin levels, and the effects of short-term intensive lifestyle modification on circulating vaspin levels in overweight or obese children. Methods A total of 50 (25 boys, 25 girls) overweight or obese children aged 11 to 13 years (average age: 12.0 ± 0.9 y, BMI: 25.35 ± 86 kg/m 2) who complied with inclusion criteria participated in our study. To determine the association between adiposity, insulin resistance, lipid profiles and inflammatory markers including vaspin levels, cross-sectional analyses were performed. Thereafter, subjects underwent a tightly controlled seven-day intensive lifestyle modification including physical activity, dietary modification, and behavioral modification education in residence of a local university dormitory. Results There was a negative correlation between vaspin concentration and fasting insulin ( r = −.325, p < 0.05) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ( r = −.331, p < 0.05) when percent body fat was controlled. Multivariate linear regression analysis found serum vaspin level to be an independent predictor of insulin and HOMA-IR. Short-term intensive lifestyle modification significantly decreased vaspin levels by 39.28% (pre: .84 ± 1.0, post: .51 ± 1.0 ng/ml, p < 0.001) while adiponectin levels increased by 11.2% (pre: 6.50 ± 2.89, post: 7.28 ± 2.98 ng/ml, p < 0.01). In addition, short-term lifestyle modification significantly improved HOMA-IR (pre: 3.58 ± 1.93, post 1.30 ± 1.9, p < 0.001) and lipid profiles. Conclusions Serum vaspin level is one of the predictors for insulin resistance and was significantly reduced following short-term lifestyle modification.