Effect of lifestyle intervention on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese obese children.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of lifestyle intervention on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Chinese obese children.


METHODS
Seventy-six obese children aged from 10 to 17 years with NAFLD were enrolled for a one-month intervention and divided randomly into three groups. Group1, consisting of 38 obese children, was an untreated control group without any intervention. Group 2, consisting of 19 obese children in summer camp, was strictly controlled only by life style intervention. Group 3, consisting of 19 obese children, received oral vitamin E therapy at a dose of 100 mg/d. The height, weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting serum insulin (FINS), plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TCHO) and homeostasis model assent-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured at baseline and after one month. All patients were underwent to an ultrasonographic study of the liver performed by one operator who was blinded to the groups.


RESULTS
The monitor indices of BMI, ALT, AST, TG, TCHO and HOMA-IR were successfully improved except in group 1. BMI and ALT in group 2 were reduced more significantly than in group 3 (2.44 +/- 0.82 vs 1.45 +/- 0.80, P = 0.001; 88.58 +/- 39.99 vs 63.69 +/- 27.05, P = 0.040, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Both a short-term lifestyle intervention and vitamin E therapy have an effect on NAFLD in obese children. Compared with vitamin E, lifestyle intervention is more effective. Therefore, lifestyle intervention should represent the first step in the management of children with NAFLD.
Wang
Chun-Lin
CL
Department of Endocrinology, The Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 57 Zhugan Xiang, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China. hzwangcl@yahoo.com.cn
Liang
Li
L
Fu
Jun-Fen
JF
Zou
Chao-Chun
CC
Hong
Fang
F
Xue
Jin-Zheng
JZ
Lu
Jin-Rui
JR
Wu
Xiang-Min
XM
D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008019:Life Style; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014810:Vitamin E; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase