A team of scientists at King’s College London created a new test blood test using lipids could provide an early warning system for metabolic disorders, including diabetes, liver disease, and heart complications.
The Findings of the study were published in the Nature Medicine journal recently.
According to the study, lipids play a much more complex role in metabolic health. The study also revealed that specific lipid molecules contribute to health risks such as high blood pressure and insulin resistance, independent of a child’s weight. The researchers maintain that cholesterol is the primary factor in obesity-related complications in children.
According to the scientists, the novel blood test analyses thousands of different lipids present in the body using mass spectrometry. Moreover, this technique allows scientists to pinpoint lipid molecules linked to metabolic diseases. Since hospitals already use blood plasma testing machines, implementing this new diagnostic approach could help medical professionals detect early signs of disease in children and provide timely intervention, the scientists highlighted.
To experiment the effectiveness of the test, researchers studied a group of 1,300 children with obesity. Among them, 200 participants underwent the HOLBAEK model, a lifestyle intervention program used in Denmark.
After a year, the children in the intervention group showed reduced lipid markers associated with diabetes risk, insulin resistance, and high blood pressure, even though some did not experience significant changes in their body mass index (BMI).
“By studying how lipid molecules change in the body, we can potentially prevent metabolic diseases like diabetes altogether,” Dr Cristina Legido-Quigley, the lead researcher, said.
The team is now focused on understanding how genetic factors influence lipid profiles and what role they play in metabolic diseases.
“This study reinforces the need for effective obesity management strategies and provides parents with evidence-based approaches to support their children’s health,” Dr Karolina Sulek, a key contributor to the study, said.