Abstract

Telomeres may be considered markers of biological aging, shorter telomere length is associated with some age-related diseases; in several studies short telomere length has also been associated to obesity in adults and adolescents. However the relationship between telomere complex functions and obesity is still not clear. Aim of the study was to assess telomere length (TL) in adults' obese subjects before and after weight loss obtained by placement of bioenteric intragastric balloon (BIB) for 6months. We enrolled 42 obese subjects before and after BIB placement as weight loss intervention. Blood samples were collected in order to obtain DNA from leukocyte to measure TL by quantitative PCR. Data were analyzed only in 37 subjects with complete data; all presented important body weight loss (124.06±26.7 vs 105.40±23.14, p<0.001) and more interesting they presented a significant increase in TL (3.58±0.83 vs 5.61±3.29, p<0.001). Moreover we observed a significant positive correlation between TL elongation and weight loss (r=0.44, p=0.007) as well as an inverse correlation between TL at baseline and TL elongation (r=-0.35, p=0.03).The predictors of TL elongation were once again weight loss and short TL at baseline (respectively p=0.007 and p=0.003). Our study shows that weight loss is associated to telomere lengthening in a positive correlation: the greater weight loss the greater telomere lengthening; moreover telomere lengthening is more significant in those subjects with shortest telomeres at baseline.

Highlights

  • Telomeres may be considered markers of biological aging, shorter telomere length is associated with some age-related diseases; in several studies short telomere length has been associated to obesity in adults and adolescents

  • In this study conducted on 37 obese subjects, a significant increase in telomere length (TL) after 6 months of weight loss intervention was observed

  • Our results are consistent with previously published studies on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle such as Mediterranean diet and weight loss on telomere length [15,16], in promoting health and longevity

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Summary

Introduction

Telomeres may be considered markers of biological aging, shorter telomere length is associated with some age-related diseases; in several studies short telomere length has been associated to obesity in adults and adolescents. Aim of the study was to assess telomere length (TL) in adults' obese subjects before and after weight loss obtained by placement of bioenteric intragastric balloon (BIB) for 6 months. Methods: We enrolled 42 obese subjects before and after BIB placement as weight loss intervention. Conclusions: Our study shows that weight loss is associated to telomere lengthening in a positive correlation: the greater weight loss the greater telomere lengthening; telomere lengthening is more significant in those subjects with shortest telomeres at baseline. Telomeres consist of repetitive DNA sequences (TTAGGG) and are located at the ends of linear chromosomes. In order to limit telomere attrition, germline and some somatic cells express telomerase, a reverse transcriptase that maintains telomere length by synthesizing new DNA sequences and adding them to the end of the chromosome [2]. When telomeres are too short, they signal the arrest of cell proliferation

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