Prevalence of Type 1 Diabetes auto-antibodies (GADA, IA2, IAA) in overweight and obese children
- Valentina M Cambuli, MD1,
- Michela Incani, BSc1,
- Efisio Cossu, MD1,
- Tiziana Congiu, MD1,
- Francesca Scano, MD1,
- Sabrina Pilia, MD2,
- Federica Sentinelli, BSc PhD1,
- Claudio Tiberti, ATA3,
- M. Gisella Cavallo, MD PhD4,
- Sandro Loche, MD2 and
- Marco G Baroni, MD PhD (marcobaroni{at}medicina.unica.it)1
- 1Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- 2Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Regional Hospital for Microcitemia, Cagliari, Italy
- 3Department of Clinical Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, University “La Sapienza” of Rome, Rome, Italy
- 4Department of Clinical and Medical Therapy, University “La Sapienza” of Rome, Rome, Italy
Abstract
Background: Little is known on the prevalence of beta-cells auto-antibodies in children with excess body weight.
Research Design and Methods: The prevalence of type 1 diabetes auto-antibodies and its relation with hyperglycemia was analyzed in 686 overweight/obese children and adolescents. All children underwent OGTT and anti-GAD, anti-IA2 and anti-IAA auto-antibodies were measured. Auto-antibodies prevalence was evaluated in 107 normal weight children for comparison.
Results: A single auto-antibody was present in 2.18% overweight/obese and in 1.86% normal weight subjects (p=NS). Post-load glycemia was significantly higher in antibody-positive children (133±69.9 vs. 105.4±17.7 mg/dl; p<0.0001) compared to auto-antibody-negative subjects. No difference in auto-antibodies distribution was seen when our cohort was stratified by age, sex, SDS-BMI, pubertal stage and HOMA-IR.
Conclusions: The 2.18% prevalence of type 1 diabetes auto-antibodies is very similar to that reported in non obese children. This study provided evidence that excess body weight and insulin-resistance do not influence auto-antibodies frequency.
Footnotes
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- Received August 23, 2009.
- Accepted December 21, 2009.
- Copyright © American Diabetes Association
