ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology

Preface: The increasing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is well established, and includes new at-risk groups, such as children with attention deficit syndrome. It has become clear that T2DM in adolescents is more aggressive than in adults, and studies by the RISE consortium have clarified the basis of this difference. Treatment with subcutaneous liraglutide holds promise for adolescents with T2DM. Furthermore, this year the FDA approved artificial intelligence to diagnose diabetes retinopathy.

A recently recognized factor associated with pathways to cardiovascular and metabolic risk in youths is early life stress, as reflected by height-stunted growth of individuals who were in institutional care as infants, and of individuals exposed to early socioeconomic disadvantage. On the other hand, exogenous testosterone treatment to transgender men was not associated with increased cardiovascular risk. In a review of noxious effects of carbohydrates, the term carbotoxicity was coined, thus highlighting the epidemiological and experimental evidence of the negative impact of excessive carbohydrate intakes. Conversely, a prospective cohort study and meta-analysis indicated that low carbohydrate consumption (<40%) conferred greater mortality risk.

The enigma of how cholesterol is transported within cells has been solved by the discovery of the protein Aster. Orlistat therapy was demonstrated to be beneficial for children with Type 1 hyperlipoproteinemia. Supplements with omega-3 did not lower the overall incidence of adverse cardiovascular events or cancer. Novel diagnostic biomarkers were identified in the blood that can predict early fatty liver disease.