Concordance in nutrient biomarker and cardiometabolic risk factors between child-parent dyads participating in a family-based childhood weight management intervention

Authors: MATTHAN, NIRUPA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; BARGER, KATHRYN - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; TSAI, CHIA-FANG - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; WYLIE-ROSETT, JUDITH - Albert Einstein College Of Medicine; GROISMAN-PERELSTEIN, ADRIANA - Albert Einstein College Of Medicine; DIAMANTIS, PAMELA - Albert Einstein College Of Medicine; XUE, XIAONAN - Albert Einstein College Of Medicine; MOSSAVER-RAHMANI, YASMIN - Albert Einstein College Of Medicine; GINSBERG, MINDY - Albert Einstein College Of Medicine; LICHTENSTEIN, ALICE - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/2021
Publication Date: 11/8/2021
Citation: Matthan, N., Barger, K., Tsai, C., Wylie-Rosett, J., Groisman-Perelstein, A.E., Diamantis, P.M., Xue, X., Mossaver-Rahmani, Y., Ginsberg, M., Lichtenstein, A.H. 2021. Concordance in nutrient biomarker and cardiometabolic risk factors between child-parent dyads participating in a family-based childhood weight management intervention [abstract]. American Heart Association Scientific Session 144: A13127.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Introduction: Children are at elevated risk for developing obesity/cardiometabolic abnormalities when their parents have these conditions. Little is known about diet quality and subsequent impact on cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) in child-parent dyads. Objective: To determine the concordance between nutrient biomarkers and CMRF changes in children (age 7-12 years; BMIz >85%tile) and their parents, who participated in a 1-year randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effects of adding an enhanced program to standard care. Methods: Pre-post intervention changes in nutrient biomarkers (plasma carotenoids; RBC fatty acid profiles) and CMRFs (BMI, blood pressure, and plasma glucose, insulin, lipid profile, inflammatory markers and adipokine concentrations) were evaluated in 226 child-parent dyads. Based on percent change in children's BMIz score, they were grouped into high (>-8%), medium (0 to -8%) and low (>0%) responders. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated to determine association between 1-year change in nutrient biomarkers and CMRFs within child-parent dyad groups. Results: There were positive associations in beta-carotene, and RBC SFA, MUFA, PUFA n-6, PUFA n-3 and trans fatty acid concentrations in child-parent dyads, regardless of group ( r= 0.25 to 0.83, p<0.05). Significant positive child-parent associations were observed for systemic (TNFa, IL-1, IL-6) and vascular (E- and P-selectin, thrombomodulin) inflammatory markers (r= 0.32 to 0.83, p<0.05), and adiponectin (r=0.47, p=0.001), but not other CMRFs. In the high responder group, there was a positive association between improvements in child's BMIz scores and parental BMI (r=0.32, p=0.01). This dyad also had the most favorable improvements in nutrient biomarkers (increases in carotenoids, and decreases in SFA and trans fatty acids) and CMRFs (decreases in blood pressure, and LDL-C, TG and hsCRP concentrations). Conclusions: Our finding of concordance in child-parent dyad changes in nutrient biomarkers and selected CMRFs after a 1-year intervention, especially in the high responder group, suggests parallel dietary changes and highlights the importance of parental engagement in the effectiveness of childhood obesity interventions.