The Impact of Physical Exercise on Obesity in a Cohort of Southern Italian Obese Children: Improvement in Cardiovascular Risk and Immune System Biomarkers

Cristina Mennitti, Annaluisa Ranieri, Ersilia Nigro, Lorella Tripodi, Mariarita Brancaccio, Jacopo Ulisse, Luca Gentile, Fabio Fimiani, Arturo Cesaro, Giovanni D’Alicandro, Giuseppe Limongelli, Aurora Daniele, Raffaela Pero, Giulia Frisso, Paolo Calabrò, Lucio Pastore, Maria Rosaria Licenziati (), Olga Scudiero () and Barbara Lombardo
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Cristina Mennitti: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Annaluisa Ranieri: Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate S. C. a R. L., 80131 Naples, Italy
Ersilia Nigro: Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate S. C. a R. L., 80131 Naples, Italy
Lorella Tripodi: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Mariarita Brancaccio: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Jacopo Ulisse: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Luca Gentile: Integrated Department of Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Fabio Fimiani: Unit of Inherited and Rare Cardiovascular Diseases, A.O.R.N. Dei Colli “V. Monaldi”, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80131 Naples, Italy
Arturo Cesaro: Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Napoli, Italy
Giovanni D’Alicandro: Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Center of Sports Medicine and Disability, AORN, Santobono-Pausillipon, 80122 Naples, Italy
Giuseppe Limongelli: Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Respiratory Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Napoli, Italy
Aurora Daniele: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Raffaela Pero: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Giulia Frisso: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Paolo Calabrò: Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Napoli, Italy
Lucio Pastore: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Maria Rosaria Licenziati: Obesity and Endocrine Disease Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Santobono-Pausilipon Children’s Hospital, 80129 Naples, Italy
Olga Scudiero: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Barbara Lombardo: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Background: Childhood obesity (CO) is a serious medical condition affecting approximately 120 million children and adolescents worldwide. It is characterized by a persistent inflammatory state with inflammatory markers overexpressed, which in turn leads to a higher cardiovascular risk. It is well known that physical exercise reduces the inflammatory state in obese children. In the present study, we evaluated various biochemical parameters in obese children performing physical exercise compared to a group of obese sedentary children. Hence, the objective is to identify a panel of biomarkers to prevent numerous obesity-related complications. Methods: We examined two populations: 44 sedentary obese children (OSe), recruited on 5 November 2018 from Santobono–Pausilipon Children’s Hospital, Naples (Italy) of age = 11 ± 3.3 and 30 obese children who practice sport (OSp) of age = 10 ± 2.5. We observed a significant variation in some biochemical parameters such as white blood cells, C-reactive protein (CRP), glycemia and insulinemia. Moreover, we determined the levels of interleukins, chemokines and defensins by ELISA assay. Results: Our results showed a reduction in serum level of glycemia ( p -value < 0.001), neutrophils ( p -value < 0.05) and CRP ( p -value < 0.05), whereas no relevant variations have been reported in insulin levels. Moreover, we found a decrease in serum levels of PDGF-β ( p -value < 0.05), IL-9 ( p -value < 0.01), IL-6 ( p -value < 0.0001), IL-8 ( p -value < 0.0001), IP-10 ( p -value < 0.01), Eotaxin ( p -value < 0.0001) and GM-CSF ( p -value < 0.01) in OSp population in comparison to OSe. At the same time, we did not observe any significant variation in serum levels of IL-1ra and IL-17 between the two populations. On the other hand, we found an increase in HNP-1 ( p -value < 0.0001) and HBD1 ( p -value < 0.01) in OSp if compared to OSe. Conclusions: This study shed light on the role of physical exercise on CO, demonstrating in our population that an early evaluation of some biochemical parameters could be an assumption to prescribe physical exercise in order to monitor and prevent childhood obesity and related disorders.

Keywords: childhood obesity; physical exercise; interleukins; defensins; cardiovascular risk; inflammation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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