The association of lecithin retinol acyltransferase and the 25(OH)D receptor with pediatric overweight and obesity.

The aim of this study is to determine whether lecithin retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) as well as biomarkers of vitamin A (VA) and vitamin D are related to indices of obesity in childhood. A total of 164 children (aged 6-12 years, female 49.39%), comprising 66 children in the overweight/obese group and 98 children in the lean group, were included. LRAT expression was remarkably lower in the overweight/obese group than in the lean group (P < 0.01). Compared with the lean group, the overweight/obese group had elevated VA (0.95 ± 0.25 vs. 0.83 ± 0.21 µmol/L, P < 0.01). Moreover, the levels of 25(OH)D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) and its receptor were lower in overweight/obese subjects than in lean subjects (P = 0.06 and <0.05). LRAT was negatively correlated with body mass index and waist circumference (R = -0.27, P < 0.01, and R = -0.18, P < 0.05, respectively) and positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein (R = 0.18, P < 0.05). VA metabolism may be disordered in obese children, although children with obesity have higher VA levels than lean children.