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Essential fatty acid status in infants and children with chronic liver disease

Y T Abdel-Ghaffar1, E Amin, M Abdel-Rasheed

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal = La Revue De Sante De La Mediterranee Orientale = Al-Majallah Al-Sihhiyah Li-Sharq Al-Mutawassit
|November 26, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency is common in children with chronic liver disease, linked to higher bilirubin levels and increased oxidative stress. This highlights a significant risk for these young patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hepatology
  • Nutritional Biochemistry
  • Clinical Biochemistry

Background:

  • Chronic liver diseases in children, including cholestasis and cirrhosis, present complex health challenges.
  • Essential fatty acids (EFAs) play crucial roles in cellular function and antioxidant defense.
  • Oxidative stress is implicated in the progression of liver disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the relationship between essential fatty acid (EFA) status and hyperbilirubinemia.
  • To assess the correlation between EFA levels and markers of oxidant stress in pediatric liver disease.
  • To investigate the impact of EFA deficiency on vitamin status in children with chronic liver conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study comparing 30 children with chronic cholestasis, 30 with liver cirrhosis, and 30 healthy controls.
  • Analysis of serum essential fatty acid levels.
  • Measurement of total bilirubin and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as a marker of lipid peroxidation.
  • Assessment of serum retinol and alpha-tocopherol levels and the alpha-tocopherol/total lipids ratio.

Main Results:

  • Patients with chronic liver diseases exhibited significantly decreased EFA levels and elevated total bilirubin compared to controls.
  • Significantly higher levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were observed in patient groups, inversely correlated with EFA levels.
  • Significant reductions in retinol and alpha-tocopherol, along with a decreased alpha-tocopherol/total lipids ratio, were positively correlated with lower EFA levels.

Conclusions:

  • Infants and children suffering from chronic liver diseases are at high risk of essential fatty acid deficiency.
  • EFA deficiency is strongly correlated with progressive increases in serum bilirubin levels in these patients.
  • Deterioration of oxidant status and altered vitamin levels are associated with EFA deficiency in pediatric chronic liver disease.

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