Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: relation to juvenile obesity, lipid profile, and hepatic enzymes

• Published in: Journal of medicine and life Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 42 - 47
• Main Authors: Altalebi, Raghid Reyadh, Al-hussaniy, Hany Akeel, Al-tameemi, Zahraa Salam, AL-Zobaidy, Mohammed Abdul-Hassan, Albu-Rghaif, Ali Hikmat, Alkuraishy, Hayder Mutter, Hedeab, Gomaa Mostafa, Azam, Faizul, Al-Samydai, Ali Mahmoud, Naji, Meena Akeel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Romania Carol Daila University Foundation 01.01.2023; Carol Davila University Press
• Subjects: Age; Body composition; Body mass index; Cholesterol; Enzymes; Fatty liver; Glucose; Humans; Lipids; Liver cirrhosis; Liver diseases; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Obesity; Original; Transaminases; Triglycerides; Ultrasonic imaging; NASH – non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; NAFLD – Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; body mass index; ALT – Alanine aminotransferase; CHOL – cholesterol; liver cirrhosis; FBG – fasting blood glucose; TGL – Triglycerides; alanine transaminase; LDL – Low-density lipoprotein; GGT gamma-glutamyl transferase; BMI – body mass index; AST – Aspartate aminotransferase
• ISSN: 1844-122X; 1844-3117; 1844-3117
• DOI: 10.25122/jml-2022-0091

The prevalence of juvenile obesity is increasing, reaching epidemic proportions, presenting a link not only to NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) but to abnormal lipid profiles and liver enzyme abnormalities. Liver ultrasonography is a sensitive and specific tool for the recognition of NAFLD. This study aims to assess the association between NAFLD and juvenile obesity and to determine the other related changes in a set of indicators, including lipid profile abnormalities and serum transaminases. The sample included 470 obese and 210 non-obese individuals aged 6–16. Anthropometric measures were assessed, with the serum lipid profile and liver transaminases, and abdominal ultrasonography was used to detect NAFLD. Fatty liver was found in 38% of the obese subjects and none of the non-obese subjects. Within obese subjects, mean body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference increased significantly in patients with NAFLD compared to those without fatty liver. Moreover, LDL (low-density lipoprotein), CHOL (cholesterol), and serum liver enzymes were significantly higher in the presence of NAFLD. In conclusion, NAFLD commonly associates with juvenile obesity, relating to obesity and the abnormal lipid profile (including elevated CHOL and LDL) among obese people, reflecting elevated liver transaminases, which increase the risk of cirrhosis.