Fasting Plasma GLP-1 Is Associated With Overweight/Obesity and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 May 13;106(6):1718-1727. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgab098.

Abstract

Context: The importance of fasting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in altered metabolic outcomes has been questioned.

Objective: This work aimed to assess whether fasting GLP-1 differs in children and adolescents with overweight/obesity compared to a population-based reference, and whether concentrations predict cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors.

Methods: Analyses were based on The Danish Childhood Obesity Data- and Biobank, a cross-sectional study including children and adolescents, aged 6 to 19 years, from an obesity clinic group (n = 1978) and from a population-based group (n = 2334). Fasting concentrations of plasma total GLP-1 and quantitative CMR factors were assessed. The effects of GLP-1 as a predictor of CMR risk outcomes were examined by multiple linear and logistic regression modeling.

Results: The obesity clinic group had higher fasting GLP-1 concentrations (median 3.3 pmol/L; interquartile range, 2.3-4.3 pmol/L) than the population-based group (2.8 pmol/L; interquartile range, 2.1-3.8 pmol/L; P < 2.2E-16). Body mass index SD score (SDS), waist circumference, and total body fat percentage were significant predictors of fasting GLP-1 concentrations in boys and girls. Fasting GLP-1 concentrations were positively associated with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, fasting values of insulin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, C-peptide, triglycerides, alanine transaminase (ALT), glycated hemoglobin A1c, and SDS of diastolic and systolic blood pressure. A 1-SD increase in fasting GLP-1 was associated with an increased risk of insulin resistance (odds ratio [OR] 1.59), dyslipidemia (OR 1.16), increased ALT (OR 1.14), hyperglycemia (OR 1.12) and hypertension (OR 1.12).

Conclusion: Overweight/obesity in children and adolescents is associated with increased fasting plasma total GLP-1 concentrations, which was predictive of higher CMR factors.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00928473.

Keywords: GLP-1; adolescents; cardiometabolic risk factors; children; obesity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Cardiometabolic Risk Factors*
  • Child
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Fasting / blood
  • Female
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / blood*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Overweight / blood
  • Overweight / complications
  • Overweight / epidemiology
  • Pediatric Obesity* / blood
  • Pediatric Obesity* / complications
  • Pediatric Obesity* / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00928473