Effect of Diet Supplementation With Amaranth Protein on Mexican Children With Overweight and Obesity (AmProtObes)

Overweight and obesity are chronic diseases that result from complex interactions including genetics, environment, eating behaviors, and limited access to a healthy diet. Amaranth grains contain high-quality proteins (well balance of essential amino acids), with good biodigestibiliy. In addition, amaranth proteins contains encrypted peptides with several biological functions with health benefits, such as antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antiobosegenic, but those activities have been reported in vitro assays and in vivo using mice models. In mice, have been reported the amaranth proteins were able to decrease the serum cholesterol and triglycerides levels and can modulate the gut microbiota. But until now, there are no studies evaluating the amaranth proteins in children with overweight and obesity and the modulation of gut microbiota.

The work aimed to form a group of children aged 8-10 years with different Body Mass Index (BMI) which were allocated in groups as: normal weight (NW), overweight (OW), and with obesity (OB). Children received amaranth protein for 90 days, blood and feces were taken at the beginning and the end of the trial. Levels of fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin were analyzed. HOMA-IR and Adinopectin/Leptin ratio were calculated. Feces were used to analyze the metagenome and quantify the levels of Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs).

The study was aproved by the Research Ethics Committe of the Health Services San Luis Potosi (No. SLP/006-2018) and conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration (2000). Informed assent was obtained from the participating children, and the informed consent from their parents or legal representatives.