Liver fat content investigated by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in obese children and youths included in multidisciplinary treatment

TY - JOUR

T1 - Liver fat content investigated by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in obese children and youths included in multidisciplinary treatment

AU - Bille, Dorthe Sadowa

AU - Chabanova, Elizaveta

AU - Gamborg, Michael Orland

AU - Fonvig, Cilius Esmann

AU - Nielsen, Tenna Ruest Haarmark

AU - Thisted, Ebbe

AU - Thomsen, Henrik Segelcke

AU - Holm, Jens-Christian

PY - 2012/4

Y1 - 2012/4

N2 - The study aims to investigate the degree of hepatic steatosis and associations with the amount of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), anthropometric data and biochemical measures of liver enzymes in children and youths included in obesity treatment. The study included 164 patients, aged 6-20 years, with a body mass index (BMI) above the 90th percentile for sex and age. Liver fat content was measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). SAT and VAT were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Hepatic steatosis was defined as liver fat content >5% (steatosis-5%) and 9% (steatosis-9%), respectively. Data on waist circumference (WC) and blood samples were available in 124 patients. Steatosis-5% and steatosis-9% were identified in 45% and 27% of the patients, respectively. These patients had increased SAT, VAT, BMI standard deviation score, WC/height ratio, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels. GGT, ALT and VAT were found to be independent risk factors of hepatic steatosis. In this study, a substantial proportion of obese children and youths have hepatic steatosis. Therefore, it is important to examine these subjects for the degree of fat in their liver. Future studies focusing on hepatic steatosis should consider the use of MRS in addition to blood samples.

AB - The study aims to investigate the degree of hepatic steatosis and associations with the amount of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), anthropometric data and biochemical measures of liver enzymes in children and youths included in obesity treatment. The study included 164 patients, aged 6-20 years, with a body mass index (BMI) above the 90th percentile for sex and age. Liver fat content was measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). SAT and VAT were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Hepatic steatosis was defined as liver fat content >5% (steatosis-5%) and 9% (steatosis-9%), respectively. Data on waist circumference (WC) and blood samples were available in 124 patients. Steatosis-5% and steatosis-9% were identified in 45% and 27% of the patients, respectively. These patients had increased SAT, VAT, BMI standard deviation score, WC/height ratio, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels. GGT, ALT and VAT were found to be independent risk factors of hepatic steatosis. In this study, a substantial proportion of obese children and youths have hepatic steatosis. Therefore, it is important to examine these subjects for the degree of fat in their liver. Future studies focusing on hepatic steatosis should consider the use of MRS in addition to blood samples.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1758-8111.2012.00038.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1758-8111.2012.00038.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25586046

SN - 1758-8103

VL - 2

SP - 41

EP - 49

JO - Clinical Obesity

JF - Clinical Obesity

IS - 1-2

ER -