Ethnic aspects of obesity in adolescents: endogenous intoxication, activity of antioxidant enzymes, proteins’ and DNA oxidative damage

Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents create serious risks of metabolic disorders in adulthood. Exogenous-constitutional form of obesity (ECO) is associated often with chronic inflammation, accompanied by endogenous intoxication and oxidative stress. Identification of ethnic differences of metabolic reactions in adolescents with ECO will contribute to the development of personalized approaches to the treatment and prevention of this pathology. <b>The aim</b> of the study was to identify ethnic characteristics of the manifestation of ECO in adolescents. <b>Material and methods</b>. The objects of the study were 203 adolescents aged 11-17 years, residents of the cities of Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude. The main group consisted of 86 children with ECO: 52 Caucasians (28 boys, 24 girls), 34 Mongoloids (18 boys, 16 girls). The control group included 117 adolescents without ECO: 62 Caucasians (29 boys, 33 girls), 55 Mongoloids (19 boys, 36 girls). The study employed spectrophotometric, enzyme immunoassay, and statistical research methods. <b>Results</b>. In Caucasian girls with ECO, an increase in the level of endogenous intoxication markers - medium molecular weight peptides (MMP) 280 (p=0.002), MMP 238 (p<0.001), as well as in the DNA oxidation index [8-Hydroxyguanosine (8-OHdG) level] (p=0.001) compared to the control has been noted. In Mongoloid girls there was an increase in MMP 280 (p=0.002) values compared to the control. Ethnic differences included lower values of MMP 238 (p<0.0001), MMP 254 (p<0.001), MMP 280 (p=0.013), glutathione-S-transferase (G-S-T) level (p=0.025), elevated levels of 8-OHdG (p<0.0001) and glutathione peroxidase (GPO) (p<0.0001) in Mongoloid girls with ECO relative to Caucasians. Caucasian boys with ECO had higher 8-OHdG level (p=0.025), advanced oxidation protein parameter (AOPP) (p=0.006), and lower GPO level (p=0.044) compared to the control. In Mongoloid young men with ECO, there were reduced values of AOPP (p=0.023) and higher GPO level (p=0.041) compared to the control. Ethnic differences among young men with ECO were represented by higher 8-OHdG level (p<0.0001) and reduced values of G-S-T (p<0.001), MMP 238 (p=0.002) and MMP 254 (p<0.001) in Mongoloid compared to Caucasians. <b>Conclusion</b>. The study revealed higher values of endogenous intoxication indicators, imbalance in the glutathione enzyme system, and an increase in the level of DNA damage marker in adolescents with ECO regardless of gender and ethnicity. Ethnic differences in adolescents with ECO consisted of lower parameters of endogenous intoxication, increased values of DNA destruction indicator and activity of thiol-disulfide system enzymes in Mongoloid adolescents compared to Caucasians. The data obtained will allow us to expand our understanding of the etiopathogenesis of obesity and develop approaches to personalized correction of this condition in adolescence, taking into account the patient's ethnicity.