Are saturated fatty acids and insulin resistance associated with fatty liver in obese children?
BACKGROUND
Fatty liver (FL) is a common cause of liver disease in children. Obesity and insulin resistance (IR) play an important role in pathogenesis of FL. Diet has been reported to affect IR and possibly FL. The purpose of this study was to investigate certain parameters (anthropometric, biochemical, dietary intake) of obese Greek children with and without FL.


METHODS
Forty-three obese children aged 9-14 (25 boys/18 girls) participated in the study. FL was diagnosed by ultrasonography (US). Liver indexes (ALT, AST, gamma-GT) were measured in all children. A 3-day dietary was recorded for all subjects. None of the subjects were positive for viral hepatitis or had a history of consuming alcohol.


RESULTS
Eighteen out of 43 subjects (41.8%) had FL based on US. Intakes of carbohydrates and simple refined carbohydrates were significantly higher in subjects with FL compared to children without FL, while saturated fatty acids (SFA) were proportionally increased to the degree of hepatic steatosis. In multiple regression analysis of factors associated with FL, only HOMA-IR [Beta: 0.160, 95%CI (0.122-1.340), P<0.001] and SFA [Beta: 0.455, 95%CI (0.129-2.129), P<0.001] were the most significant one.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that high intake of carbohydrates and simple refined carbohydrates as well as low intake of fiber may be correlated with the pathogenesis of FL. Moreover, IR and high intake of SFA are independently associated with FL in obese children.
Papandreou
Dimitrios
D
2nd Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Medicine, AHEPA Hospital, St. Kiriakidi 1, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece. papandreoudimitrios@yahoo.gr
Rousso
Israel
I
Malindretos
Pavlos
P
Makedou
Areti
A
Moudiou
Tatiana
T
Pidonia
Ifigenia
I
Pantoleon
Athina
A
Economou
Ipolliti
I
Mavromichalis
Ioannis
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids