Predictors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese children.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate predictors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese children.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Two hundred and sixty-eight obese children not consuming alcohol and without hepatitis B or C were consecutively studied at an auxology clinic.


METHODS
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT), cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, glucose, glucose during oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT), insulin, insulin during OGTT, insulin resistance as estimated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured. Fatty liver was diagnosed by ultrasonography using standard criteria. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of NAFLD. All predictors except gender and pubertal status were modeled as continuous variables.


RESULTS
NAFLD was detected in 44% of obese children. At univariable analysis, male gender, Z-score of body mass index (BMI) (Z-BMI), ALT, AST, GGT, triglycerides, uric acid, glucose, glucose during OGTT, insulin, insulin during OGTT, HOMA, CRP and systolic blood pressure were predictors of NAFLD, whereas HDL-cholesterol and late-pubertal status were predictors of the normal liver. At multivariable analysis, however, only Z-BMI, ALT, uric acid, glucose during OGTT and insulin during OGTT were independent predictors of NAFLD.


CONCLUSIONS
Z-BMI, ALT, uric acid, glucose during OGTT and insulin during OGTT are independent predictors of NAFLD in Italian obese children, with most of the prediction explained by ALT and Z-BMI.
Sartorio
A
A
Divisione di Auxologia e Laboratorio Sperimentale di Ricerche Auxo-endocrinologiche, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Verbania and Milano, Italy.
Del Col
A
A
Agosti
F
F
Mazzilli
G
G
Bellentani
S
S
Tiribelli
C
C
Bedogni
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids