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Liver fat change in obese children after a 1-year nutrition-behavior intervention
Carlo Pozzato1, Elvira Verduci, Silvia Scaglioni
1Department of Radiology, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Insights
A 1-year nutrition and exercise program significantly reduced liver fat in obese children. This intervention improved metabolic markers and decreased the prevalence of childhood non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing concern linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
- NAFLD in children can lead to serious long-term health complications.
- Effective interventions are crucial for managing pediatric obesity and its associated liver conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of a 1-year nutrition-behavior intervention in reducing liver fat in obese children.
- To assess the impact of a balanced diet and physical activity on liver steatosis and related metabolic parameters.
Main Methods:
- A 1-year intervention study involving 26 obese children (ages 6-14).
- Intervention included a normocaloric balanced diet and physical exercise.
- Evaluations included anthropometry, metabolic markers, and liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine hepatic fat fraction (FF).
Main Results:
- Liver steatosis prevalence decreased from 34.6% to 7.7% (P < 0.0001).
- Mean liver fat fraction (FF) reduced by 8.0% (P < 0.0001), with 77.8% of affected children showing normalization.
- Significant improvements observed in body mass index z-score, waist circumference, and lipid profiles.
Conclusions:
- Nutritional-behavior interventions are effective in reducing liver fat in obese children.
- This approach offers a promising strategy for managing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in pediatric populations.
- Lifestyle modifications can positively impact metabolic health and liver steatosis in children.
Objectives:
To evaluate whether a 1-year nutrition-behavior intervention based on normocaloric balanced diet and physical exercise may reduce liver fat in obese children.
Patients And Methods:
Twenty-six obese children (11 boys and 15 girls), aged 6 to 14 years, underwent anthropometric, nutritional, metabolic, and liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations at baseline and after a 1-year nutrition-behavior intervention. Anthropometry included weight, height, waist and hip circumference, and total upper arm area. Body mass index z scores were calculated. Biochemistry included serum aminotransferases, lipid profile, glucose, and insulin. Liver steatosis was judged as hepatic fat fraction (FF) by MRI and was > or =9%.
Results:
Prevalence of steatosis was 34.6% at baseline and declined to 7.7% after intervention (P < 0.0001). Mean (95% CI) reduction of liver FF was 8.0% (4.0%-12.0%). In 77.8% of children with liver steatosis at baseline, the FF declined lower than 9% at the end of intervention, going from a mean (SD) of 18.7% (9.1) to 1.3% (4.1), (P < 0.0001). At the end of the intervention, children showed a mean reduction in body mass index z score of 0.26 (0.11-0.41) and waist circumference of 1.46 (0.34-2.60) cm. Triglycerides, total cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, ApoA1/ApoB ratio, and gamma-glutamyltransferase plasma values in plasma decreased at the end of intervention (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
The results suggest that in obese children nutritional-behavior interventions may reduce the liver fat.
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