Leukocyte telomere length change in children with obesity in the context of an isocaloric fructose restriction intervention

Abstract Background Few studies have evaluated changes in leukocyte telomere length (LTL) over a short time period (e.g. 1 week). LTL shortening is accelerated by exposure to inflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage. Methods In the context of an isocaloric fructose restriction study tha...

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Main Authors: Janet M. Wojcicki, Elissa Epel, Jue Lin, Viva Tai, Jean-Marc Schwarz, Susan M. Noworolski, Ayca Erkin-Cakmak, Kathleen Mulligan, Alejandro Gugliucci, Rob H. Lustig
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01611-0
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author Janet M. Wojcicki
Elissa Epel
Jue Lin
Viva Tai
Jean-Marc Schwarz
Susan M. Noworolski
Ayca Erkin-Cakmak
Kathleen Mulligan
Alejandro Gugliucci
Rob H. Lustig
author_facet Janet M. Wojcicki
Elissa Epel
Jue Lin
Viva Tai
Jean-Marc Schwarz
Susan M. Noworolski
Ayca Erkin-Cakmak
Kathleen Mulligan
Alejandro Gugliucci
Rob H. Lustig
author_sort Janet M. Wojcicki
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Few studies have evaluated changes in leukocyte telomere length (LTL) over a short time period (e.g. 1 week). LTL shortening is accelerated by exposure to inflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage. Methods In the context of an isocaloric fructose restriction study that was conducted with 43 Black and Latinx children over a 9-day period, we evaluated the relationship between metabolic health at baseline and metabolic changes and LTL at baseline and %LTL change over the follow-up period. Linear regression models were used to assess associations between metabolic correlates and LTL at baseline and LTL changes over 9 days. Results Overall children lost − 0.05 ± 0.14 T/S units or − 2.98 ± 8.74% total change over the follow-up period. Higher concentrations of HDL-C, APO-AI and a greater % of large HDL-C at baseline were associated with reduced LTL attrition rates at day 10 (p < 0.01; p < 0.01 and p = 0.02 respectively). Increases in APO-AI over the follow-up period were associated with increased LTL attrition over the follow-up period (p = 0.03). Conclusions In this short term isocaloric fructose restriction study, LTL at baseline and changes in LTL over 9 days were associated with HDL-C and APO-AI and not with any other non-HDL-C lipids. Additional, larger studies are necessary to better understand the interplay between short term fructose restriction, LTL changes and HDL-C/APO-AI.
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spelling doaj-art-3d94f355b54c4da8aa38ed66bddd90332025-08-20T03:41:50ZengBMCDiabetology & Metabolic Syndrome1758-59962025-03-011711610.1186/s13098-025-01611-0Leukocyte telomere length change in children with obesity in the context of an isocaloric fructose restriction interventionJanet M. Wojcicki0Elissa Epel1Jue Lin2Viva Tai3Jean-Marc Schwarz4Susan M. Noworolski5Ayca Erkin-Cakmak6Kathleen Mulligan7Alejandro Gugliucci8Rob H. Lustig9Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of California, San FranciscoDepartment of Psychiatry, University of California, San FranciscoDepartment of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Medicine, University of CaliforniaBasic Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Touro University-CaliforniaDepartment of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San FranciscoDepartment of Pediatrics, University of California, San FranciscoDepartment of Medicine, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Research, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Touro University-CaliforniaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of California, San FranciscoAbstract Background Few studies have evaluated changes in leukocyte telomere length (LTL) over a short time period (e.g. 1 week). LTL shortening is accelerated by exposure to inflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage. Methods In the context of an isocaloric fructose restriction study that was conducted with 43 Black and Latinx children over a 9-day period, we evaluated the relationship between metabolic health at baseline and metabolic changes and LTL at baseline and %LTL change over the follow-up period. Linear regression models were used to assess associations between metabolic correlates and LTL at baseline and LTL changes over 9 days. Results Overall children lost − 0.05 ± 0.14 T/S units or − 2.98 ± 8.74% total change over the follow-up period. Higher concentrations of HDL-C, APO-AI and a greater % of large HDL-C at baseline were associated with reduced LTL attrition rates at day 10 (p < 0.01; p < 0.01 and p = 0.02 respectively). Increases in APO-AI over the follow-up period were associated with increased LTL attrition over the follow-up period (p = 0.03). Conclusions In this short term isocaloric fructose restriction study, LTL at baseline and changes in LTL over 9 days were associated with HDL-C and APO-AI and not with any other non-HDL-C lipids. Additional, larger studies are necessary to better understand the interplay between short term fructose restriction, LTL changes and HDL-C/APO-AI.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01611-0
spellingShingle Janet M. Wojcicki
Elissa Epel
Jue Lin
Viva Tai
Jean-Marc Schwarz
Susan M. Noworolski
Ayca Erkin-Cakmak
Kathleen Mulligan
Alejandro Gugliucci
Rob H. Lustig
Leukocyte telomere length change in children with obesity in the context of an isocaloric fructose restriction intervention
Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome
title Leukocyte telomere length change in children with obesity in the context of an isocaloric fructose restriction intervention
title_full Leukocyte telomere length change in children with obesity in the context of an isocaloric fructose restriction intervention
title_fullStr Leukocyte telomere length change in children with obesity in the context of an isocaloric fructose restriction intervention
title_full_unstemmed Leukocyte telomere length change in children with obesity in the context of an isocaloric fructose restriction intervention
title_short Leukocyte telomere length change in children with obesity in the context of an isocaloric fructose restriction intervention
title_sort leukocyte telomere length change in children with obesity in the context of an isocaloric fructose restriction intervention
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01611-0
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