The childhood obesity prevalence has increased dramatically in the last decades, affecting more than 340 million children worldwide. This condition is the major risk factor for a set of metabolic abnormalities, also known as metabolic syndrome, a condition that reduce life expectancy by 5-20 years. Changes in the global food system, and the increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), may have contributed to the increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity and related morbidities. The mechanisms by which UPFs might promote obesity and metabolic syndrome could be multiple and not completely identified. The Ultra-processed Food in Obesity (UFO) Project has been designed to investigate the potential associations between UPFs intake and MetS in pediatric subjects
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
200
Department of Traslational Medical Science - University of Naples Federico II
Naples, Italy
RECRUITINGDietary UPF intake
The assessment of dietary UPF intake will be carried out through a 7-day food diary.
Time frame: At enrollment
Daily intake of energy and nutrients
The daily intake of energy (kcal) and nutrients will be carried out through a 7-day food diary.
Time frame: At enrollment
Daily dietary intake of AGEs
The intake of Advanced Glycation Endproducts (mostly present in UPFs).
Time frame: At enrollment
Skin AGEs levels
The skin accumulation of AGEs in the subcutaneous.
Time frame: At enrollment
RAGE expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells
The expressione of the AGEs receptor in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
Time frame: At enrollment
Soluble form of RAGE expression
The expressione of the AGEs receptor in the serum.
Time frame: At enrollment
Mitochondrial metabolism
The mitochondrial metabolism through the Seahorse XFp analyzer.
Time frame: At enrollment
Oxidative stress
Oxidative stress biomarkers.
Time frame: At enrollment
Interleukin-6
Serum levels of Interleukin-6.
Time frame: At enrollment
MicroRNA-221 expression
MicroRNA-221 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
Time frame: At enrollment
Leptin
Serum levels of leptin.
Time frame: At enrollment
Ghrelin
Serum levels of ghrelin.
Time frame: At enrollment
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