Cardiometabolic risk factors and lactoferrin: polymorphisms and plasma levels in French-Canadian children

Abstract

BackgroundLactoferrin (LTF) could play a beneficial role in insulin resistance and diabetes, but the association of its gene variants with cardio-metabolic disorders in children has not been investigated. This study aimed to examine the relationship between LTF variants, plasma LTF concentrations, and cardio-metabolic risk factors in French-Canadian children.MethodsThe study cohort comprises 1,749 French Canadians aged 9, 13, and 16 years. The association of 13 LTF polymorphisms, metabolic parameters, and plasma LTF levels was tested in this cross-sectional, province-wide school-based survey.ResultsNone of the genetic association remained significant after correction for multiple testing and LTF SNPs were not associated with LTF levels. Plasma LTF was positively correlated with body mass index (r=0.2245, P=0.0011) and weight (r=0.2515, P=0.0008). After segregating according to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), the association remained only in subjects exhibiting low HDL-C (r=0.3868, P=0.0002 for body mass index and r=0.3665, P=0.0004 for weight). In girls, plasma LTF was positively correlated with total cholesterol (r=0.2231, P=0.0378), LDL cholesterol (r=0.2409, P=0.0246), and apolipoprotein B (r=0.2478, P=0.0207).ConclusionsWe found no association between LTF gene variants and metabolic parameters following correction for multiple testing. HDL-C and gender-specific positive associations were evidenced between plasma LTF, anthropometric profile, and lipid levels.

Psychological risk in long‐term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and its association with functional health status: A PETALE cohort study

“…LAEs include metabolic dysfunctions, musculoskeletal morbidities, cardiopulmonary, and neurocognitive impairments. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] A report on the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) has estimated that 62% of surveyed adult survivors had at least one chronic health condition and 28% suffered from a severe condition. 5 Furthermore, the St-Jude Lifetime Cohort study found that the cumulative burden of chronic health conditions among adult childhood cancer survivors (CCS) compared with a community sample was also significantly higher with a high frequency of secondary neoplasms, spinal disorders, and pulmonary function deficits.…”

“…Several studies have highlighted how radiation therapy exposure, chemotherapy toxicity, as well as sex and age at diagnosis may be contributing factors to late adverse effects (LAEs) for survivors. LAEs include metabolic dysfunctions, musculoskeletal morbidities, cardiopulmonary, and neurocognitive impairments . A report on the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) has estimated that 62% of surveyed adult survivors had at least one chronic health condition and 28% suffered from a severe condition .…”

Metabolic Health in Obese Subjects—Is There a Link to Lactoferrin and Lactoferrin Receptor-Related Gene Polymorphisms?

“…Previously, several studies identified genes which might be potentially associated with different features of the metabolic profile [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Additionally, previous studies suggested that selected polymorphisms in LTF , LRP1 , and LRP2 genes might be associated with the prevalence of metabolic abnormalities [ 7 , 11 , 12 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

“…This gene is highly polymorphic with the presence of several common alleles in the general population [ 27 , 28 ]. Previously, several studies have suggested that some SNPs in LTF gene might be associated with the prevalence of metabolic abnormalities [ 11 , 12 , 23 ]; however, none of the studies evaluated the association between LTF, LRP1 and LRP2 genes polymorphisms with the prevalence of metabolically healthy or metabolically unhealthy obesity. Similarly to our results, Marcil et al [ 12 ] in a study conducted on 1749 French Canadians aged 9, 13 and 16 years and found a significant difference in allele frequencies between subjects with and without metabolic syndrome for the LTF rs2239692 polymorphism.…”

“…Interestingly, in children, three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)—rs1126478, rs34827868 and rs1042073—in the LTF gene had a minor allele associated with increased HDL-C concentrations and three others (rs4637321, rs2239692 and rs10865941) were related with decreased fasting glucose levels, increased blood pressure, and higher levels of free fatty acids. However, these associations did not remain significant after correction for multiple testing [ 12 ]. Another study demonstrated that the hypolipidemic effect of lactoferrin is dependent on the selective binding of this protein to the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1).…”