title: Alanine transferase: An independent indicator of adiposity related comorbidity risk in youth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) are associated with obesity and are often a consequence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between ALT and risk factors for adiposity-related co-morbidities in a diverse population of middle school children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured height, weight, body fatness (bioelectrical impedance), waist circumference, insulin sensitivity, phase 1 insulin release (acute insulin response following intravenous glucose), beta-cell function (acute insulin response corrected for insulin sensitivity), ALT, lipid profiles, and circulating concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein, adiponectin, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in a multi-ethnic/racial population of 106 middle school students (aged 11-14 years, 45 female) of varying body mass indexes (BMI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alanine aminotransferase was significantly correlated with BMI, % body fat, fat mass, waist circumference, fasting insulin, insulin resistance, triglycerides, and was inversely correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in children, even though all values of ALT were "normal" (range of 4.0-33.0 U/L). ALT was significantly higher in males than females even when corrected for body fatness. Significant correlations with lipids and insulin resistance persisted even when adjusted for age, gender, and body fatness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even within the normative range, ALT levels were significantly correlated with anthropomorphic and biochemical risk factors for adiposity-related co-morbidities in youth. Therefore, because ALT is correlated with dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and central fat distribution, it might also serve as a marker of risk for adiposity-related co-morbidities beyond NAFLD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iazzettii
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Cohen Children's Medical Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Speiser
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Cohen Children's Medical Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shelov
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, USA.
authors.forename: Siham
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Accacha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, New York Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Ilene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fennoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, New York Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rapaport
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: adiposity; alanine transferase; cardiovascular disease; diabetes mellitus in youth; obesity; 关键词：
  肥胖，丙氨酸转移酶，心血管疾病，年轻人糖尿病，肥胖