Mechanisms of Obesity and Its Metabolic Complications in Youth

Mechanisms of Obesity and Its Metabolic Complications in Youth

The overarching goal of this project is to determine whether the effect of gut microbiota on human metabolism might be mediated by short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and whether the SCFA might modulate lipid metabolism.

This would be the first study determining the effect of SCFA synthesis on hepatic de novo lipogenesis and to assess whether and how isocaloric dietary changes (namely low carbohydrates) might modify the composition of the gut microbiota and reduce the synthesis of SCFA during adolescence, a sensitive period for the development of obesity.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Good general health,
• Taking no medication on a chronic basis
• Age 15 to 21 years,
• In puberty (girls and boys: Tanner stage III - V)
• BMI >25th and <85th for lean cohort; BMI >95th for obese cohort
• Girls who begin menstruating must have a negative pregnancy test during the study.

Exclusion criteria:

• Baseline creatinine >1.0 mg
• Food allergies
• Pregnancy
• Presence of endocrinopathies (e.g. Cushing syndrome)
• Significant chronic illness.