Targeted metabolomics analysis of the branched-chain amino acids of adolescent obesity: a development of nomogram in girls

Abstract

Background Targeted metabolomics analysis was applied to explore the association of BCAAs and adolescent obesity, developed and validated a nomogram model to predict the adolescent obesity risk. Methods 104 adolescents aged 16–17 years were included. Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was performed to measure BCAAs levels. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were used to measure obesity. Univariate logistic regression was performed to estimate obesity related factors, restricted cubic spline was used to test the potential non-linear relationship between obesity and BCAAs. The risk nomogram based on multivariate logistic regression analysis was developed and validated. Results After adjusting for obesity related factors, only val showed a significant non-linear association with BMI in girls (P = 0.012). Val, age, systolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, urea, uric acid and apolipoprotein A1 were extracted to develop the nomogram model, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.900. Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed a high goodness-for-fit, and decision curve analysis showed that the nomogram has good clinical utility. Conclusions BCAAs levels in adolescents were sex-dependent. The validated nomogram model can provide guidance for clinical decision-making and val can used as an essential biomarker to predict early obesity in girls.