Simple Blood Test Uses Lipids to Identify Children at Risk of Diabetes

Image: The study findings could pave the way for tests that serve as an early warning system for cardiometabolic disease (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

The number of children and teenagers affected by obesity is rising globally, with projections estimating over 250 million cases by 2030. This growing epidemic presents a significant public health challenge, as children with obesity face an increased risk of developing conditions such as insulin resistance, fatty liver, and high blood pressure, which may later progress into diseases like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and liver disease. Scientists believe these diseases are often triggered by changes in the body's lipids—various fats and oils, including triglycerides and cholesterol, that play key roles in energy storage and cellular signaling. However, how these lipid species change in children with obesity and how they contribute to early cardiometabolic complications is not yet fully understood. Now, researchers have found that lipid species linked to cardiometabolic diseases in adults are closely associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in children and teens with obesity. The study’s findings, published in Nature Medicine, could lead to the development of early tests for detecting cardiometabolic diseases before they progress.

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen (Copenhagen, Denmark) conducted the study using data from the HOLBAEK Study biobank, which includes more than 4,000 children both with and without obesity. By employing advanced mass spectrometry technology, the scientists mapped hundreds of individual lipid species—each with unique structures and functions—offering a comprehensive view of lipid metabolism. Through their analysis of lipid profiles in 958 children with overweight or obesity compared to 373 with normal weight, they gained valuable insights into how obesity alters lipid profiles and their connection to cardiometabolic risk, as well as their potential to detect excess fat in the liver.

“Our study shows that the impact of cardiometabolic associated lipid species emerges early in life in children with obesity, particularly affecting liver function and glucose metabolism,” said Postdoc Yun Huang from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research at the University of Copenhagen. “These risk lipid species could potentially be explored further as biomarkers for diagnosing or predicting cardiometabolic risk in children at high risk, offering new insights for early detection and intervention.”