Metabolic, hormonal, oxidative, and inflammatory factors in pediatric obesity-related liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the role of metabolic, hormonal, oxidative, and inflammatory factors in pediatric obesity-related liver disease.


METHODS
In 50 obese children (age 7 to 14 years) with (n = 20, group 1) or without (n = 30, group 2) hypertransaminasemia and ultrasonographic liver brightness, we studied insulin resistance (fasting glucose/insulin ratio [FGIR]) and serum levels of leptin, iron, transferrin, ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC) count, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, C282Y and H63D mutations, and erythrocytic glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity.


RESULTS
FGIR (6.7 +/- 4.1 vs 9.2 +/- 5.2; P = .02), serum ferritin (88.8 +/- 36.0 vs 39.9 +/- 24.0 ng/mL; P = .0001), serum CRP (5.4 +/- 6.0 vs 1.1 +/- 1.6 mg/dL; P = 0.004), and GPX (8.4 +/- 0.9 vs 5.0 +/- 0.5 U/g Hb; P = .05) were significantly higher and more frequently deranged in group 1 than in group 2. FGIR, ferritin, and CRP values were simultaneously deranged in 41% of the group 1 patients and in none of the group 2 patients ( P = .098). Serum leptin, iron, and transferrin, WBC, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and C282Y and H63D mutations were similar in the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and low-grade systemic inflammatory status are implicated in pediatric obesity-related liver disease. These findings may be useful in planning pathophysiologically based therapeutic trials for hepatopathic obese children who are unable to follow hypocaloric diets.
Mandato
Claudia
C
Department of Pediatrics, European Laboratory for the Investigation of Food-Induced Diseases, University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Lucariello
Stefania
S
Licenziati
Maria Rosario
MR
Franzese
Adriana
A
Spagnuolo
Maria I
MI
Ficarella
Romina
R
Pacilio
Maria
M
Amitrano
Michele
M
Capuano
Grazia
G
Meli
Rosario
R
Vajro
Pietro
P
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
D000637:Transaminases