Uric Acid Is Elevated in Children With Obesity and Decreases After Weight Loss.

Bjarke Bøttger,Rikke Frederiksen Bahnsen,Britta Kremke,Esben Thyssen Vestergaard,Rasmus Møller Jørgensen,Jens Meldgaard Bruun,Bent Windelborg Nielsen

doi:10.3389/fped.2021.814166

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood obesity is an increasing condition associated with continuous obesity into adulthood and development of comorbidities. Adult studies show an association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and body mass index (BMI). The aim of this retro perspective exploratory study was to investigate SUA in obese children and adolescents and the effects of a subsequent weight reduction.Materials and Methods: One hundred and seventy-one children (age 4–18), with obesity (i.e. BMI-SDS of +2 or higher) were included in a multifactorial lifestyle intervention. The children participating were annually measured for anthropometrics, blood samples and DEXA-scans for up to 3 years. Eighty-nine children were included for follow-up analysis.Results: After a follow-up of 20.7 ± 9.4 months a reduction in BMI-SDS of −0.34 ± 0.53 (p < 0.01) was observed. SUA was found to be positively associated with changes in BMI-SDS. SUA levels decreased in the 65 children who lost weight during the trial, conversely, SUA increased in the 23 children who gained weight during the trial (p < 0.01 between groups).Conclusion: SUA was found to correlate with measures of obesity and for the first time, this intervention demonstrates a positive relationship between SUA and weight reduction in children with obesity.

Highlights

Childhood obesity is an increasing condition associated with continuous obesity into adulthood and development of comorbidities
Overweight in children can be defined as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (body mass index (BMI) kg/m2) above the 85th percentile and obesity as a BMI above the 95th percentile [3]
We found a dose-response between serum uric acid (SUA) and measures of adiposity (i.e. body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-SDS)) and

Summary

Introduction

Childhood obesity is an increasing condition associated with continuous obesity into adulthood and development of comorbidities. Adult studies show an association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and body mass index (BMI). The aim of this retro perspective exploratory study was to investigate SUA in obese children and adolescents and the effects of a subsequent weight reduction. The prevalence of obesity amongst Danish children has shown a similar tendency [2]. In 2018, the Danish Health Authorities reported that almost 20% of children between 7–18 years of age were considered to be overweight, of which, 3–4% were obese [2]. Overweight in children can be defined as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (body mass index (BMI) kg/m2) above the 85th percentile and obesity as a BMI above the 95th percentile [3]. In children with obesity, thorough clinical and biochemical examination can reveal prediabetes, dyslipidemia and elevated blood pressure - all of which can

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