Effects of medium chain triglycerides on body fat distribution and adipocytokine levels in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia under chemotherapy

Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Aug;98(33):e16811. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000016811.

Abstract

Glucocorticoids used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are associated with cytotoxicity and obesity. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of high-proportion medium chain triglyceride (MCT) on body fat distribution and levels of leptin and adiponectin during chemotherapy of children with ALL.New-onset ALL children treated at the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center between March 2016 and March 2017 were enrolled. Children were divided into the MCT and control groups. For the MCT group, high-proportion MCT nutrition preparation was added to the diet, while no MCT was added for the control group. The MCT group was further divided into subgroups A and B based on the amount of supplement. Waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, bone marrow concentrations of leptin and adiponectin, and leptin-to-adiponectin ratio were measured before and on days 19 and 46 of chemotherapy. Body weight and body mass index (BMI) were measured on admission and discharge.Waist circumference in the control group increased by day 46 (P = .047), but did not change in the MCT group. The BMI of the children in the control group was higher than those in the MCT group on admission (P = .003), but not different at discharge. No significant differences in hip circumference, leptin levels, adiponectin levels, and body weight were observed between the 2 groups.This preliminary study suggests that short-term supplementation of high-proportion MCT nutrition preparation may help reduce the centripetal distribution of adipose induced by the application of glucocorticoids in children with ALL. This will have to be confirmed in future studies.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adiponectin / blood*
  • Adiposity / drug effects*
  • Body Fat Distribution
  • Body Mass Index
  • Body Weight
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Leptin / blood
  • Male
  • Obesity / chemically induced
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / blood
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / physiopathology*
  • Triglycerides / pharmacology*
  • Waist Circumference

Substances

  • ADIPOQ protein, human
  • Adiponectin
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Leptin
  • Triglycerides