Variations in the obesity genes FTO, TMEM18 and NRXN3 influence the vulnerability of children to weight gain induced by short sleep duration.

Objective: Shorter sleep duration predisposes to obesity, but the mechanisms whereby sleep deprivation affects body weight are poorly understood. We tested whether this association is modulated by the obesity genes FTO, TMEM18 and NRXN3.

Subjects: Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, visceral fat (abdominal ultrasound), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and sleep time per 24 h were assessed in 297 asymptomatic children (151 boys, 146 girls; age range 5-9 years; BMI s.

Soluble fatty acid synthase relates to bone biomarkers in prepubertal children.

Summary: Circulating soluble fatty acid synthase (FASN, a key enzyme in de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids, expressed in both adipocytes and osteoblasts) is clinically related to a less favorable bone profile in healthy prepubertal children. Soluble FASN may participate in the reciprocal regulation between fat and bone metabolism.

Introduction: Fatty acid synthase (FASN), a key enzyme in de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids, is expressed in adipocytes and osteoblasts.

Physiological concentrations of serum cortisol are related to vascular risk markers in prepubertal children.

There is increasing evidence that cortisol contributes to cardiovascular risk. It is unclear whether physiological concentrations of serum cortisol are related to vascular risk markers in children. The cross-sectional associations between morning serum cortisol and cardiovascular risk markers: blood pressure (BP) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), were examined in a sample of healthy prepubertal children (age, 6.