Metabolic Syndrome Obesity Clinical Trial
Official title:
Melatonin Levels and Obesity
Background: Melatonin is a neurohormone that regulates the circadian rhythm by translating
photoperiodic information from the eyes to the brain.
Working hypothesis and aims: There is a possible link between circadian rhythm regulation and
glucose homeostasis through melatonin pathways. We aim to examine the relation between
melatonin levels and degree of obesity , in children and adolescents in different pubertal
stages.
Methods: The study group will include 24 children and adolescents in various stages of
pubertal development. Participants will be categorized into 3 groups: 1) normal-weight, 2)
obese subjects with metabolic syndrome, 3) obese without metabolic syndrome. Melatonin levels
will be measured using saliva during the night.
Expected results: We expect to find a relation between melatonin levels to the metrics of
metabolic syndrome, sleep duration, number of television viewing hours and sense of
depression.
Importance: Childhood obesity is recognized as a major medical and public health problem and
is strongly associated with many serious medical complications including the metabolic
syndrome and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM). It is important to understand mechanisms involved in the
development of obesity and hyperinsulinemia.
Probable implications to Medicine: Foreseeing a connection between melatonin levels and the
degree of obesity and metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents, we would recommend
addressing duration of sleep while treating obesity.
Background: Melatonin is a neurohormone that regulates the circadian rhythm by translating
photoperiodic information from the eyes to the brain. MTNR1B , is one of melatonin receptors
which is expressed in the retina, in the brain and in pancreatic tissue. In Genome Wide
Association studies a SNP in the intronic variant in MTNR1B was found to be to in association
with elevated fasting plasma glucose and with increased risk of T2DM among lean and obese
adults and children.
Working hypothesis and aims: There is a possible link between circadian rhythm regulation and
glucose homeostasis through melatonin pathways. We aim to examine the relation between
melatonin levels and degree of obesity and the metabolic syndrome, in children and
adolescents in different pubertal stages.
Methods: The study group will include twenty-four children and adolescents in various stages
of pubertal development. Participants will be categorized into three groups: 1)
normal-weight, 2) obese subjects with metabolic syndrome, 3) obese without metabolic
syndrome. Melatonin levels will be measured using saliva during the night. Each child will be
measured for height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure. Fasting insulin, glucose
and lipid profile will be taken. Each child will fill out questionnaires about depression,
sleep quality and television usage.
Expected results: We expect to find a relation between melatonin levels to the metrics of
metabolic syndrome, sleep duration, number of television viewing hours and sense of
depression. We expect to find lower levels of melatonin in the group of obese children with
metabolic syndrome during night time. We expect that children with lower levels of melatonin
should report on fewer hours of sleep, more hours of watching television and feeling more
depressed.
Importance: Childhood obesity is recognized as a major medical and public health problem and
is strongly associated with many serious medical complications including the metabolic
syndrome and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM). It is important to understand mechanisms involved in the
development of obesity and hyperinsulinemia.
Probable implications to Medicine: Foreseeing a connection between melatonin levels and the
degree of obesity and metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents, we would recommend
addressing duration of sleep while treating obesity.
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