Zhang B, Xing L, Wang B, et al. - MiR-24-3p not only affords a potential noninvasive marker for children with obesity but also demonstrated its predictive value for the development of metabolic syndrome.

• This study involved children with obesity (n = 45), obese children with metabolic syndrome (n = 52), and healthy controls (n = 50).

• Via reverse transcription quantitative PCR, expression levels of miR-24-3p were measured.

• Obese children with metabolic syndrome had the highest expression of miR-24-3p.

• miR-24-3p enabled differentiation between healthy individuals and obese children (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.951).

• miR-24-3p predicted metabolic syndrome occurrence for obese children (AUC = 0.890).

• miR-24-3p expression level had positive correlation with body mass index, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure.