Prediction of future risk of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome based on Korean boy's metabolite profiling

SummaryObjectiveChildhood obesity is strongly related to future insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Thus, identifying early biomarkers of obesity-related diseases based on metabolic profiling is useful to control future metabolic disorders. We compared metabolic profiles between obese and normal-weight children and investigated specific biomarkers of future insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.MethodsIn all, 186 plasma metabolites were analysed at baseline and after 2 years in 109 Korean boys (age 10.5 ± 0.4 years) from the Korean Child Obesity Cohort Study using the AbsoluteIDQ™ p180 Kit.ResultsWe observed that levels of 41 metabolites at baseline and 40 metabolites at follow-up were significantly altered in obese children (p < 0.05). Obese children showed significantly higher levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and several acylcarnitines and lower levels of acyl–alkyl phosphatidylcholines. Also, baseline BCAAs were significantly positively correlated with both homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and continuous metabolic risk score at the 2-year follow-up. In logistic regression analyses with adjustments for degree of obesity at baseline, baseline BCAA concentration, greater than the median value, was identified as a predictor of future risk of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.ConclusionHigh BCAA concentration could be “early” biomarkers for predicting future metabolic diseases.