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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2017 Jun 1;102(6):1983-1990.
doi: 10.1210/jc.2017-00185.

Effects of Mixed Carotenoids on Adipokines and Abdominal Adiposity in Children: A Pilot Study

J Atilio Canas  1 , Amanda Lochrie  2 , Amy Galena McGowan  3 , Jobayer Hossain  4 , Christopher Schettino  5 , P Babu Balagopal  6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of Mixed Carotenoids on Adipokines and Abdominal Adiposity in Children: A Pilot Study

J Atilio Canas et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. .

Abstract

Context: Carotenoids have been implicated in the regulation of adipocyte metabolism.

Objective: To compare the effects of mixed-carotenoid supplementation (MCS) versus placebo on adipokines and the accrual of abdominal adiposity in children with obesity.

Design and setting: Randomized (1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention trial to evaluate the effects of MCS over 6 months in a subspecialty clinic.

Participants: Twenty (6 male and 14 female) children with simple obesity [body mass index (BMI) > 90%], a mean age (± standard deviation) of 10.5 ± 0.4 years, and Tanner stage I to V were enrolled; 17 participants completed the trial.

Intervention: MCS (which contains β-carotene, α-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, astaxanthin, and γ-tocopherol) or placebo was administered daily.

Main outcome measures: Primary outcomes were change in β-carotene, abdominal fat accrual (according to magnetic resonance imaging), and BMI z-score; secondary outcomes were adipokines and markers of insulin resistance.

Results: Cross-sectional analysis of β-carotene showed inverse correlation with BMI z-score, waist-to-height ratio, visceral adipose tissue, and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) at baseline. MCS increased β-carotene, total adiponectin, and high-molecular-weight adiponectin compared with placebo. MCS led to a greater reduction in BMI z-score, waist-to-height ratio, and SAT compared with placebo. The percentage change in β-carotene directly correlated with the percentage change in SAT.

Conclusions: The decrease in BMI z-score, waist-to-height ratio, and SAT and the concomitant increase in the concentration of β-carotene and high-molecular-weight adiponectin by MCS suggest the putative beneficial role of MCS in children with obesity.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02060279.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Protocol study flow. PE, physical examination; LSIP, lifestyle intervention program.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Mean treatment effects between MCS and placebo groups. (a) BMI z-score. (b) WHtR. (c) HOMA-IR. (d) Percentage change in HMW-ADI. BL, baseline.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Mean percentage change in SAT and VAT by MRI after 6 months of mixed carotenoid (MC) versus placebo adjusted for Tanner stage and BMI z-score.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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