PLASMA BETA-ENDORPHIN AND INSULIN CONCENTRATIONS IN RELATION TO BODY-FAT AND NUTRITIONAL PARAMETERS IN OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE PREPUBERTAL CHILDREN

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between plasma beta-endorph in (beta-end) and insulin concentrations and 1) body fat, and 2) nutri tional parameters in overweight or obese prepubertal children. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study on plasma beta-end and insulin concentrations, body fat, indirect parameters of appetite namely daily energy and macr onutrient intake. SUBJECTS: 143 (67 boys and 76 girls) overweight or o bese children (group I) and 48 (27 boys and 21 girls) healthy children with normal parameters of somatic development (group II). Age: 5.8-9. 6 y. MEASUREMENTS: Weight, height and subcutaneous skinfold thicknesse s, plasma beta-end and insulin concentrations, diet history for energy and macronutrient intake. RESULTS: Group I was characterised by signi ficantly higher average concentrations of beta-end and insulin in comp arison to the control group. The analysis of these concentrations in t he subgroups in relation to the percentage of body fat indicates that beta-end concentrations increased more than insulin concentrations wit h increasing fatness. A significantly positive correlation between bet a-end and insulin levels was only noted in group 1. Also, only in this group was there a significant positive correlation between beta-end l evels and energy and macronutrient intake. In both groups the percenta ge of energy intake which was fat, correlated positively with beta-end concentrations. Furthermore energy and fat intakes showed a significa nt positive correlation with insulin levels in both groups. CONCLUSION S: beta-endorphin and insulin concentrations in overweight and obese p repubertal children are not only higher than in non-obese children but also are positively correlated with each other and with the percentag e of body fat. The relationship between plasma beta-end levels and foo d intake shows that the beta-end lever may be able to be used as an in dicator of appetite in overweight and obese prepubertal children whose food intake is not restricted.