Research Article Details

Article ID: A27693
PMID: 17655622
Source: Acta Paediatr
Title: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in overweight children and adolescents.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and identify predictors for NAFLD in an overweight paediatric population. METHODS: The study group included 58 overweight (BMI-SDS 3.37 +/- 1) patients aged 8-18 years attending the paediatric obesity clinic. They underwent a clinical and biochemical work-up and liver ultrasonography. Grading of liver steatosis severity was done according to discrepancy in ultrasonographic liver-kidney densities. RESULTS: The prevalence of NAFLD was 60.3%. There was a highly significant (p = 0.004) association between severity of obesity and the presence or absence of liver steatosis. The study cohort was divided into three groups: group 1 (patients with normal ultrasonographic liver structure and normal liver enzymes), group 2 (patients with ultrasonographic fatty liver and normal liver enzymes) and group 3 (patients with ultrasonographic fatty liver and elevated liver enzymes). The BMI-SDS was significantly higher in group 3 compared to group 1 (4.2 +/- 1.1 vs. 2.8 +/- 0.9, p < 0.001). The rate of obesity complications was more prevalent in group 3 compared to groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001). The insulin resistance index was higher in group 3 compared to group 1 (0.75 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.47 +/- 0.3, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of NAFLD in our study cohort was high (60.3%). Patients with steatosis and elevated liver enzymes had a higher risk for obesity complications. Measurements of liver enzymes alone are insufficient, and liver ultrasonography is required for early identification of NAFLD.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2007.00399.x

Strategy ID Therapy Strategy Synonyms Therapy Targets Therapy Drugs
S01 Improve insulin resistance insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide Details

Target ID Target Name GENE Action Class UniProtKB ID Entry Name
T18 Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 ACACA inhibitor Enzyme Q13085 ACACA_HUMAN Details

Diseases ID DO ID Disease Name Definition Class
I05 9352 Type 2 diabetes mellitus A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus Details
I14 9970 Obesity An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition Details

Drug ID Drug Name Type DrugBank ID Targets Category Latest Progress
D199 L-alanine Chemical drug DB00160 KYNU -- Failed in clinical trials Details
D182 Insulin Biological drug DB00030 INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of -- Under clinical trials Details
D316 S-adenosyl-L-methionine Chemical drug DB00118 GNMT cofactor Antiviral Under clinical trials Details
D094 Cysteamine Chemical drug DB00847 GSS stimulant Renal drug Under clinical trials Details
D095 Cysteamine bitartrate Chemical drug DB00847 -- -- Under clinical trials Details