PT45 - DIETARY INFLUENCE ON MYOKINE CONCETRATIONS IN PREPUBERTAL CHILDREN: A COMPARISON OF PLANT-BASED AND OMNIVOROUS DIETS

PT45

DIETARY INFLUENCE ON MYOKINE CONCETRATIONS IN PREPUBERTAL CHILDREN: A COMPARISON OF PLANT-BASED AND OMNIVOROUS DIETS

J. Ambroszkiewicz^1,*, M. Chełchowska¹, J. Gajewska¹, W. Klemarczyk², G. Rowicka³

¹Department of Screening Tests and Metabolic Diagnostics, ²Department of Nutrition, ³Pediatric Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland

Rationale: The role of skeletal muscle as an endocrine organ has gained considerable attention, particularly due to its secretion of myokines, which are essential for regulating metabolism and muscle function. By analyzing a panel of myokines, such as myostatin, myonectin, fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21), follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL-1), and decorin, this study aims to understand the potential impact of dietary patterns on muscle health during early childhood.

Methods: Fifty healthy prepubertal children participated in the study. They were divided into two groups: 26 children following a plant-based diet and 24 children consuming a mixed traditional diet. Anthropometric measurements and dietary assessments were conducted for all participants. Serum levels of myokines were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: No significant differences were found in the weight, height, body mass index (BMI), or physical activity between the two groups. However, dietary analysis revealed that children on a plant-based diet had a similar overall energy intake, but consumed less protein and more carbohydrates compared to those on an omnivorous diet. Notably, while the median concentrations of myostatin, myonectin, and FGF-21 were similar across the groups, children on the plant-based diet exhibited significantly lower FSTL-1 levels (p<0.01) and higher decorin levels (p<0.05) compared to their omnivorous counterparts.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that dietary choices can influence the balance of myokines in children. Despite similar growth patterns and adequate energy intake, children on a plant-based diet showed altered myokine profiles, highlighting the need for attention to nutrient intake in promoting muscle development and overall health in young children.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared