Luting Peng1, Su Wu2, Nan Zhou1, Shanliang Zhu3, Qianqi Liu1, Xiaonan Li4,5. 1. Department of Children Health Care, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, People's Republic of China. 2. Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, People's Republic of China. 3. Department of Ultrasonography, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, China. 4. Department of Children Health Care, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, People's Republic of China. xiaonan6189@163.com. 5. Institute of Pediatric Research, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, China. xiaonan6189@163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: With the increasing number of children with obesity worldwide, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common liver disease among children. It is necessary to recognize the risk factors of NAFLD for prevention in childhood since NAFLD is asymptomatic in the early stage. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate possible risk factors of NAFLD in children with obesity, providing evidence for monitoring and prevention strategies at an early stage for obese children with NAFLD. METHODS: Data were collected from 428 children and adolescents aged 6-16 years recruited from the Children's Hospital at Nanjing Medical University from September 2015 to April 2018 and analyzed. Based on a combination of ultrasound results and alanine transaminase levels, subjects were divided into three groups: simple obesity (SOB), simple steatosis (SS), and nonalcoholic fatty hepatitis (NASH). Blood biochemical examination included glucose, insulin, uric acid, lipid profile and liver enzymes. RESULTS: Among 428 children with obesity, 235 (54.9%) had SS and 45 (10.5%) had NASH. Body mass index, body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), waist circumference, body fat, liver enzymes, uric acid and HOMA-IR level were significantly higher in the NASH group than in the SS and SOB groups (p < 0.001). 53.3% of the SS group and 49.8% of the NASH group had metabolic syndrome, significantly more than in the SOB group (19.6%, p < 0.001). After adjustment for confounding factors, logistic regression models revealed that NASH was associated with BMI-SDS ≥ 3, gender, hyperuricemia and insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of NASH in children with obesity is closely related to high BMI-SDS, gender, insulin resistance and hyperuricemia. These findings provide evidence that monitoring risk factors of childhood obesity can assist in developing prevention strategies for liver disease at an early stage.
BACKGROUND: With the increasing number of children with obesity worldwide, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common liver disease among children. It is necessary to recognize the risk factors of NAFLD for prevention in childhood since NAFLD is asymptomatic in the early stage. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate possible risk factors of NAFLD in children with obesity, providing evidence for monitoring and prevention strategies at an early stage for obesechildren with NAFLD. METHODS: Data were collected from 428 children and adolescents aged 6-16 years recruited from the Children's Hospital at Nanjing Medical University from September 2015 to April 2018 and analyzed. Based on a combination of ultrasound results and alanine transaminase levels, subjects were divided into three groups: simple obesity (SOB), simple steatosis (SS), and nonalcoholic fatty hepatitis (NASH). Blood biochemical examination included glucose, insulin, uric acid, lipid profile and liver enzymes. RESULTS: Among 428 children with obesity, 235 (54.9%) had SS and 45 (10.5%) had NASH. Body mass index, body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), waist circumference, body fat, liver enzymes, uric acid and HOMA-IR level were significantly higher in the NASH group than in the SS and SOB groups (p < 0.001). 53.3% of the SS group and 49.8% of the NASH group had metabolic syndrome, significantly more than in the SOB group (19.6%, p < 0.001). After adjustment for confounding factors, logistic regression models revealed that NASH was associated with BMI-SDS ≥ 3, gender, hyperuricemia and insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of NASH in children with obesity is closely related to high BMI-SDS, gender, insulin resistance and hyperuricemia. These findings provide evidence that monitoring risk factors of childhood obesity can assist in developing prevention strategies for liver disease at an early stage.
Authors: Jeffrey B Schwimmer; Anne Zepeda; Kimberly P Newton; Stavra A Xanthakos; Cynthia Behling; Erin K Hallinan; Michele Donithan; James Tonascia Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-11-24 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Peige Song; Xue Li; Danijela Gasevic; Ana Borges Flores; Zengli Yu Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2016-06-14 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Simona Riccio; Rosa Melone; Caterina Vitulano; Pierfrancesco Guida; Ivan Maddaluno; Stefano Guarino; Pierluigi Marzuillo; Emanuele Miraglia Del Giudice; Anna Di Sessa Journal: World J Clin Pediatr Date: 2022-03-23