Haptoglobin Phenotypes Are Associated with the Postload Glucose and Insulin Levels in Pediatric Obesity

PURPOSE: Haptoglobin (Hp) is a protein involved in the acute-phase reaction of inflammation. Humans have three major phenotypes (Hp1-1, Hp1-2, and Hp2-2). Several studies have shown altered Hp regulation in adults with obesity and metabolic alterations. The Hp2-2 phenotype is associated with a high cardiovascular risk. Our aim was to investigate if Hp levels and the Hp2-2 phenotype are associated with glucose metabolism in pediatric obesity. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 192 participants (92 males and 100 females), aged 4–18 years. Clinical and biochemical data were collected. The Hp phenotype (Hp1-1, Hp1-2, and Hp2-2) was identified through Western immunoblot. RESULTS: Subjects carrying Hp1-1, Hp1-2, and Hp2-2 phenotypes were 13.6, 50.8, and 35.6%, respectively. Hp serum, fasting glucose, and insulin levels, as well as HOMA-IR, were similar among groups. Postload glucose and insulin levels (as insulin AUC) were progressively higher from the Hp1-1 to Hp2-2 phenotype. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study on Hp phenotypes conducted in a pediatric population with obesity. We showed that the presence of Hp2 allele is associated with a worse response of glucose load in terms of both glucose and insulin levels. Thus, the Hp2-2 phenotype could predispose in pediatrics, at the same degree of obesity, to a worse glycemic and insulinemic compensation.