Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Children: Insights, Interventions and Emerging Perspectives, 2nd Edition

A Special Issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989) belonging to the section "Endocrinology and Clinical Metabolic Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2025) | Viewed by 1533

Editors


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Guest Editor
Department XI: Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
Interests: nutritional and metabolic diseases in childhood; obesity; metabolic syndrome; insulin resistance; clinical endocrinology; oxidative stress; selenium
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Guest Editor
1. Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Mother and Child Health Care Institute of Serbia “Dr Vukan Cupic”, 11 070 Belgrade, Serbia
2. School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: metabolic consequences of childhood obesity; metabolically healthy obesity; endocrine consequences of childhood obesity; metabolic syndrome in children; type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children; puberty; DSD; adrenals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This second edition of the Special Issue "Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Children: Insights, Interventions and Emerging Perspectives" came as a natural consequence of the success of the first edition, and it is also a continuation of the first one.

Metabolic syndrome in children represents a nuanced continuum intricately woven by various contributing factors, beginning with fetal programming. The prenatal environment plays a pivotal role in shaping metabolic trajectories, impacting organ development and programming metabolic pathways. Genetic predispositions add an additional layer of complexity, influencing susceptibility to metabolic dysregulation. The interplay between specific gene variants may contribute to altered lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and other hallmarks of metabolic syndrome. Oxidative stress, which is characterized by an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defenses, has emerged as a key mechanistic link. Increased oxidative stress can disrupt cellular function and contribute to the development of insulin resistance and inflammation. Moreover, environmental risk factors, encompassing lifestyle, dietary habits, and pollutant exposure, further modulate the trajectory of metabolic health in children. Investigating these intricate relationships provides a comprehensive understanding of the origins and progression of metabolic syndrome in pediatric populations, offering valuable insights for targeted interventions and early-life prevention strategies.

Dr. Teofana Otilia Bizerea-Moga
Dr. Rade Vukovic
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • metabolic syndrome in children
  • childhood obesity
  • hypertension
  • glucose tolerance
  • insulin resistance
  • nutritional status
  • metabolomics
  • oxidative stress
  • trace elements—selenium

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 1501 KB  
Article
Liver Injury Biomarkers in Pediatric Metabolic Syndrome: Key Biochemical Associations
by Teofana-Otilia Bizerea-Moga, Tudor Voicu Moga, Sanja Panic Zaric, Rade Vukovic, Otilia Mărginean and Lazăr Chișavu
Metabolites 2026, 16(3), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo16030171 - 5 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1106
Abstract
Background: The presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children predisposes them to steatotic liver disease, with or without liver enzyme alterations. Early diagnosis of the degree of liver damage can stop the progression to more severe dysfunction. Objectives: This study aimed [...] Read more.
Background: The presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children predisposes them to steatotic liver disease, with or without liver enzyme alterations. Early diagnosis of the degree of liver damage can stop the progression to more severe dysfunction. Objectives: This study aimed to establish the link between liver enzyme levels and triglyceride and cholesterol values in pediatric patients with obesity, grouped according to MetS status and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Methods: The retrospective observational study included 261 pediatric patients aged between 0 and 18 years diagnosed with obesity, MetS, and MAFLD. Before initiating the study, approval was obtained from the hospital’s Ethics Committee. The clinical and biochemical data were collected from the patients’ histories. Results: Alanine aminotransferase showed a significant positive correlation with triglyceride levels in the overall cohort, which became stronger in children with MetS and was strongest in those with ultrasonographically confirmed MAFLD. Similarly, aspartate aminotransferase demonstrated a weak positive correlation with triglycerides in the overall population, which increased in patients with MetS and became strong in children with MAFLD. Conclusions: In children with MetS and ultrasound-diagnosed MAFLD, liver enzymes showed progressively stronger positive correlations with triglyceride levels, indicating a close link between dyslipidemia and liver damage. Associations between liver enzymes and total cholesterol further support metabolic dysregulation, rather than body mass index alone, as a key driver of pediatric steatotic liver disease and highlight the value of targeted liver enzyme assessment in children with MetS or hypertriglyceridemia. Full article
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