The journal British Journal of Nutrition has published a pioneering research on the expression of genes related to childhood and juvenile obesity. This study, led by Amelia Martí, Professor of Physiology at the University of Navarra, has been carried out by the group Navarre Childhood Obesity (GENOI), which also integrates physicians from the Navarra Hospital Complex and the University of Navarra.Clínica Universidad de Navarraall of them recently included in the high school of research Sanitaria de Navarra.

The study involved 44 boys and girls between 7 and 15 years of age who were overweight or obese and were given a hypocaloric per diem expenses . The research analyzes the expression Genetics of immune system blood cells (lymphocytes and monocytes) of the participants before and after the dietary intervention.

The differences found confirm that biomarkers related to metabolism and inflammation could be found in these cells that could help influence weight loss in children and adolescents. "Advancing in this line of research would make it possible to design personalized diets with a blood draw, a very minimally invasive procedure with assured results," says Martí.