title: Morphological and metabolic determinants of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in obese youth: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) related to obesity has been rising in the last decades, though the morphological and metabolic determinants are remain unclear in children. The aim of this study was to analyze the morphological determinants and metabolic abnormalities in obese children and adolescents, classified either as with (P-NAFLD) or without (N-NAFLD). The sample comprised 190 individuals, aged 6 to 16 years-old, assigned into one of 4 groups according to sex and presence or absence of NAFLD. Obesity was obtained according to body mass index (BMI) cut-points. Body composition variables was estimated by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), insulin, fasting glucose (FG) and blood pressure were also analyzed. The diagnosis of NAFLD, as well as the measurement of intra-abdominal fat tissue thickness (IAF) and subcutaneous abdominal fat tissue thickness (SCF), was carried-out by ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Males and females belonging to P-NAFLD group showed, respectively, higher TFM and IAF. When data were adjusted for sex, age and total fat mass, those in P-NAFLD showed statistically higher IAF, TFM and TG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that obese youngsters who were assigned to P-NAFLD group were twice as likely to present higher concentration of triglycerides, higher levels of trunk fat, as well as intra-abdominal fat compared to their N-NAFLD counterparts even after adjustments for sex, age, pubertal stage and total body fat mass.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University Estadual Paulista, Campus of Presidente Prudente, 160, Redentore Gonfiantine St. Vila São Francisco, São Paulo Zip code 05351020, Brazil. paulinha__1003@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Paula A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.forename: Loreana S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Suziane U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Cayres
authors.forename: Bárbara de Moura M
authors.initials: Bde M
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.forename: Romulo Araujo
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Ismael F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Freitas
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids