The Genetic Background of Metabolic Trait Clusters in Children and Adolescents
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Date
2017Author
Silventoinen, Karri
Gouveia, Élvio
Jelenkovic Moreno, Aline
Maia, José
Antunes, António M.
Pinheiro de Carvalho, Miguel A. A.
Brehm, António M.
Thomis, Martine
Lefevre, Johan
Kaprio, Jaakko
Freitas, Duarte
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Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders 15(7) : 329-336 (2017)
Abstract
Background: It is well known that metabolic risk factors of cardiovascular diseases are correlated, but the
background of this clustering in children is more poorly known than in adults. Thus, we studied the contribution
of genetic and environmental factors to the clustering of metabolic traits in childhood and adolescence.
Data and Methods: Nine metabolic traits were measured in 214 complete twin pairs aged 3–18 years in the
Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal, in 2007 and 2008. The variation of and covariations between the
traits were decomposed into genetic and environmental components by using classical genetic twin modeling.
Results: A model, including additive genetic and environmental factors unique for each twin individual, explained
the variation of metabolic factors well. Under this model, the heritability estimates varied from 0.47
(systolic blood pressure in children under 12 years of age) to 0.91 (high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol in
adolescents 12 years of age or older). The most systematic correlations were found between adiposity (body mass
index and waist circumference) and blood lipids (HDL cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and
triglycerides), as well as blood pressure. These correlations were mainly explained by common genetic factors.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that obesity, in particular, is behind the clustering of metabolic factors in
children and adolescents. Both general and abdominal obesity partly share the same genetic background as
blood lipids and blood pressure. Obesity prevention early in childhood is important in reducing the risk of
metabolic diseases in adulthood.