J Korean Pediatr Soc.  2001 Jun;44(6):669-676.

Risk Factors for Fatty Liver in Obese Children

• Park KW
• Lee JE
• Ryu KH
• Kim KH
• Hong YM
• Kim GH
• Lee K
• Yoo JH

Abstract

PURPOSE: The incidence of obese patients has increased recently in Korea. Obesity is associated with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and fatty liver. Since recent investigators have revealed that not only fat accumulation but also fibrosis and nonspecific hepatitis can be found in the livers of obese children, fatty liver is currently considered as an important complication. The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk factors in obese children as a predictor of fatty liver.
METHODS
The objects were 146 obese children, ranging from 7 to 16 years of age, who visit obesity clinics of Ewha Womans University Hospital. They were divided into two groups, with fatty liver(n=21) and without fatty liver(n=125), as diagnosed by ultrasonography. Body Mass Index(BMI) and blood pressure were measured. Bioelectrical impedance was analyzed to estimate body composition and fat mass. Serum levels of alanine transaminase(AST), aspartate transaminase(ALT), total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and insulin were evaluated.
RESULTS
BMI, blood pressure and abdominal fat percentages were significantly higher in the children with fatty livers. Body composition of intracellular fluid, extracellular fluid, protein, and minerals were also significantly elevated in the children with fatty livers. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, serum insulin and ALT were significantly higher in the children with fatty livers.
CONCLUSION
This study confirmed the close relationship between these predictors and fatty liver. Abdominal sonography is helpful to recognize the presence of liver involvement in obese children with hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, increased ALT levels, and hypertension

Keyword

Obesity; Fatty liver; Hyperlipidemia; Hyperinsulinemia; Hypertension

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Fat
Alanine
Aspartic Acid
Blood Pressure
Body Composition
Child*
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, HDL
Cholesterol, LDL
Electric Impedance
Extracellular Fluid
Fatty Liver*
Female
Fibrosis
Hepatitis
Humans
Hyperinsulinism
Hyperlipidemias
Hypertension
Incidence
Insulin
Insulin Resistance
Intracellular Fluid
Korea
Liver
Minerals
Obesity
Research Personnel
Risk Factors*
Triglycerides
Ultrasonography
Alanine
Aspartic Acid
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, HDL
Cholesterol, LDL
Insulin
Minerals