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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

In Vitro Modeling of Fat Deposition in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
Published on: July 19, 2024
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in adolescents receiving valproic acid
Alberto Verrotti1, Sergio Agostinelli, Pasquale Parisi
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the metabolic derangements induced by valproic acid (VPA) and ultrasound-diagnosed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adolescents.
Methods:
Using a cross-sectional design, we evaluated 86 adolescents with epilepsy who had received VPA monotherapy. Subjects for comparison were 67 normal-weight and 43 weight-matched adolescents. Participants underwent hepatic ultrasound, anthropometric evaluations, and biochemical tests.
Results:
Although the occurrence of ultrasound-diagnosed NAFLD was higher in VPA-treated patients than in normal-weight controls (36.0% vs 7.5%, P<0.001), it was similar in VPA-treated patients and weight-matched controls (36.0% vs 34.9%, P>0.05). The identified predictors of NAFLD in VPA-treated patients were abdominal obesity (OR=3.2, 95% CI=2.1-6.8), insulin resistance (OR=2.8, 95% CI=1.7-5.2), metabolic syndrome (OR=2.6, 95% CI=1.4-4.8), and generalized obesity (OR=1.9, 95% CI=1.2-3.7).
Conclusion:
Valproic acid monotherapy is associated with NAFLD in a high percentage of adolescents with epilepsy who have typical VPA-related metabolic disturbances.
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