Body mass index and its effects on liver fat content in overweight and obese young adults by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy technique

Abstract

AIMTo assess the association between liver fat content (LFC) and weight status in young adults using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) technique.METHODSSeventy-eight healthy young adults, between 19-30 years of age participated in this study. This group was then separated into a control of 39 subjects and an overweight/obese group (OW/OB group) consisting of 39 subjects. Blood biochemical quantity and 1H MRS was performed for LFC assessment.RESULTSLFC was found to be almost three times higher in OW/OB group when compared to the control group. A 48.7% incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the OW/OB group was found. Blood biochemical measurements showed statistically higher low-density lipoproteins and triglyceride, lower high-density lipoproteins, and increased glycosylated hemoglobin and fasting glucose in the OW/OB group. Body mass index was a significant independent predictor for LFC after adjusting for age and sex (multiple linear regression; β = 0.459, P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONDue to the prevalence of high LFC in the OW/OB group, it can be proposed that weight gain and obesity are sensitive indicators of high hepatic fat content.

Implications of Abdominal Adipose Tissue Distribution on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Metabolic Syndrome: A Chinese General Population Study

“…One of the interesting and reassuring findings from the current study is that BMI and waist circumference (among others) are independent predictors of fatty liver disease in agreement with previous studies ( 25 , 26 ). In fact, Mansour et al ( 27 ) further found that waist circumference was independently associated with liver fibrosis with OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.05–1.25.…”

Effects of obesity on the lipid and metabolite profiles of young adults by serum1H-NMR spectroscopy

“…Obesity is one of the world’s leading health problems (Abdou, Magour & Mahmoud, 2009; Dietz, 2017; Hruby & Hu, 2015; Pasanta et al, 2018; Ramachandran & Snehalatha, 2010), and it reduces the quality of life and health for people affected by it. Obesity has been directly associated with 3.4 million deaths each year and is associated with a higher risk of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain kinds of cancer (Anstee, Targher & Day, 2013; Berger, 2018; Hu et al, 2001; Lim et al, 2012).…”

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Hepatic Fat from Fundamental to Clinical Applications

“…Six resonances of fat are usually detected with the main lipid peak at approximately 0.9 to 2.75 ppm. There are also unresolved fat resonances at 4.2 and 5.3 ppm from glycerol and olefinic acid, respectively ( Figure 2 ) [ 73 , 74 , 75 ]. These two peaks overlap with the water peak signal at 4.7 ppm.…”

“…This illustrates the feasibility of MRS for hepatic steatosis grading in the general population. Due to the increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide, MRS has been used to assess liver fat in obese patients, type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients, and patients at risk of fatty liver [ 75 , 93 , 94 , 95 ]. Furthermore, MRS has been used to evaluate liver health assessment recommendations for T2D patients at risk of liver steatosis [ 96 ].…”

“…In a study of 105 mother–infant pairs, abdominal adiposity and MRS-measured liver fat in infants was associated with maternal BMI [ 97 ]. A previous study demonstrated that a significant increase in liver fat was found in healthy young adults with high BMI compared to controls [ 75 ].…”