Untersuchungen zur Fastenbehandlung der Adipositas im Kindesalter

Summary

42 obese children at the age of 6 to 15 years have been treated with a 400–600 calories diet, alternating with periods of complete fasting. In each period the free fatty acids (FFA) have been investigated. The partly very obese patients had already during the intake of normal food marked surplus values of FFA in the serum $({{\bar x 1.520 \pm 0.515 {\text{mval}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\bar x 1.520 \pm 0.515 {\text{mval}}} {{\text{1000}} {\text{cc)}}}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\text{1000}} {\text{cc)}}}}$ in comparison with 12 children with normal body weight $({{\bar x 0.724 \pm 0.069 {\text{mval}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\bar x 0.724 \pm 0.069 {\text{mval}}} {{\text{1000}} {\text{cc)}}}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\text{1000}} {\text{cc)}}}}$.

During the low diet there was no significant increase of the FFA $({{\bar x 1.890 \pm 0.715 {\text{mval}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\bar x 1.890 \pm 0.715 {\text{mval}}} {{\text{1000}} {\text{cc)}}}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\text{1000}} {\text{cc)}}}}$. But during complete fasting the values were rising clear to an average of 2.160±0.621 mval/1000 cc (p<0.001) compared to the medium value during the normal food period. After a marked falling off in the course of low diet, the rise of the FFA during the second period of complete fasting was marked smaller in 6 children. But in 2 very obese boys the FFA-values continued remaining on a higher level at the end of a longer lasting treatment with altogether four periods of fasting; the values were also marked elevated during the low diet periods.

These observations demonstrate the ability of obese children, to mobilize the own store of body fat if required.