Fatty acid binding proteins 4 and 5 in overweight prepubertal boys: effect of nutritional counselling and supplementation with an encapsulated fruit and vegetable juice concentrate

What is it about?

This study involved 30 aged matched prepubertal (9 lean and 21 overweight) boys, age 6-10 years old who in a randomized double blind placebo control manner were tested for the effects of diet vs. diet supplemented with an encapsulated fruit and vegetable juice concentrate (FVJC) on markers of adiposity such as fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) and 5 (FABP5), insulin resistance (IR), and inflammation along with Beta-carotene (BC) as a bioavailability marker of fruit and vegetable intake.

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Why is it important?

FABP4 and FABP5 deliver lipophyllic ligands to their respective nutrient sensing receptors PPARγ and PPARβ/δ and the activated receptors are involved in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation, insulin sensitivity and macrophage function. FABP4 and FABP5 were elevated (P < 0.01) in the overweight vs. lean groups and levels directly correlated with IR and markers of inflammation (P < 0.05 for all). FABP4 (P = 0.006) and FABP5 (P = 0.01) were inversely correlated with BC. Diet + FVJC significantly lowered the FABP4 (P = 0.025) but not FABP5.

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