Telomere Length as a Biomarker for Adiposity Changes after a Multidisciplinary Intervention in Overweight/Obese Adolescents

PLoS One. 2014 Feb 24;9(2):e89828. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089828. eCollection 2014.

Telomere Length as a Biomarker for Adiposity Changes after a Multidisciplinary Intervention in Overweight/Obese Adolescents: The EVASYON Study.

García-Calzón S1, Moleres A1, Marcos A2, Campoy C3, Moreno LA4, Azcona-Sanjulián MC5, Martínez-González MA6, Martínez JA7, Zalba G8, Marti A7; EVASYON Study Group.

Author information

• 1Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
• 2Immunonutrition Research Group, Department of Metabolism and Nutrition, Institute of Food Science, Technology, and Nutrition, Instituto del Frío, Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain.
• 3Pediatric Department, Medicine School, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.
• 4GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
• 5Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Navarra Hospital, Pamplona, Spain.
• 6Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain ; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
• 7Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain ; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
• 8Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.

Abstract

CONTEXT:

Telomeres are biomarkers of biological aging. Shorter telomeres have been associated with increased adiposity in adults. However, this relationship remains unclear in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the association between telomere length (TL) and adiposity markers in overweight/obese adolescents after an intensive program. We hypothesize that greater TL at baseline would predict a better response to a weight loss treatment.

DESIGN SETTING PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION:

The EVASYON is a multidisciplinary treatment program for adolescents with overweight and obesity that is aimed at applying the intervention to all possibly involved areas of the individual, such as dietary habits, physical activity and cognitive and psychological profiles. Seventy-four participants (36 males, 38 females, 12-16 yr) were enrolled in the intervention program: 2 months of an energy-restricted diet and a follow-up period (6 months).

MAIN OUTCOME:

TL was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction at baseline and after 2 months; meanwhile, anthropometric variables were also assessed after 6 months of follow-up.

RESULTS:

TL lengthened in participants during the intensive period (+1.9±1.0, p<0.001) being greater in overweight/obese adolescents with the shortest telomeres at baseline (r = -0.962, p<0.001). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that higher baseline TL significantly predicted a higher decrease in body weight (B = -1.53, p = 0.005; B = -2.25, p = 0.047) and in standard deviation score for body mass index (BMI-SDS) (B = -0.22, p = 0.010; B = -0.47, p = 0.005) after the intensive and extensive period treatment respectively, in boys.

CONCLUSION:

Our study shows that a weight loss intervention is accompanied by a significant increase in TL in overweight/obese adolescents. Moreover, we suggest that initial longer TL could be a potential predictor for a better weight loss response.