Risk for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Young Adults Born Preterm
Laura M Breij1, Gerthe F Kerkhof, Anita C S Hokken-Koelega
1Subdivision of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Centre/Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Infants born preterm who experience rapid weight gain after their due date have an increased risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in young adulthood. This finding highlights a critical period for monitoring metabolic health in this population.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Hepatology
- Metabolic Syndrome
Background:
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a liver manifestation of metabolic syndrome.
- Accelerated infant weight gain is linked to adult NAFLD risk in full-term births.
- This association remains unstudied in preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between early-life growth patterns and NAFLD risk in young adults born preterm.
- To assess the relationship between birth weight, first-year weight gain, and fatty liver index (FLI) in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Study included 162 young adults born before 36 weeks gestation.
- Assessed FLI and its correlation with birth weight and first-year weight gain.
- Compared FLI between subjects with and without accelerated catch-up weight gain post-term.
Main Results:
- Accelerated weight gain in the first 3 months post-term correlated with FLI.
- Gestational age and low birth weight were not significantly associated with FLI.
- 7.3% of preterm subjects with accelerated weight gain had high FLI, versus 0% without.
Conclusions:
- Accelerated weight gain after term age is linked to higher NAFLD risk in young adults born preterm.
- Early growth trajectory is a significant factor in NAFLD development for this population.
Background:
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Accelerated catch-up in weight during infancy in subjects born at full term has been associated with increased risk for NAFLD in adulthood, but this association has not been studied in subjects born preterm.
Methods:
In 162 young adults born at a gestational age <36 weeks, we assessed the associations between fatty liver index (FLI, 0-100) and birth weight standard deviation score and first-year weight gain. We performed comparisons between subjects with and without accelerated catch-up in weight in the first year after term age. An FLI score was assigned to each participant to determine the clinical relevance, and regression analyses were performed.
Results:
Accelerated weight gain in the first 3 months after term age was associated with FLI as a continuous variable, whereas gestational age and low birth weight were not. Of the subjects with accelerated catch-up in weight-for-length after term age, 7.3% had a high FLI at the age of 21 years, whereas none of the subjects without accelerated catch-up in weight had a high FLI.
Conclusion:
Our study shows that accelerated weight gain after term age is associated with an increased risk of developing NAFLD in young adults born preterm.
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