Obesity and Adenovirus

Data support an association between adenovirus and obesity in children but do not prove causality.

Animal studies and two epidemiological studies in adults suggest a relation between adenovirus infection and obesity. In a cross-sectional study, investigators in San Diego compared rates of adenovirus (AD36)-specific antibodies in 67 obese children and 57 nonobese children (age range, 8–18 years).

Of the 19 children with AD36 antibodies, 15 (79%) were obese. AD36 antibodies were significantly more common in obese than in nonobese children (22% vs. 7%), and AD36-positive children had a significantly higher mean body-mass index (BMI) than those who were negative (33.7 vs. 26.8 kg/m²). Among obese children, those who were AD36 positive had a significantly higher BMI than those who were AD36 negative (36.4 v 31.8 kg/m²).

Reviewing Author

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)

Obesity and Adenovirus

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Reviewing Author