Liver Steatosis: A Marker of Metabolic Risk in Children

Abstract

Obesity is one of the greatest health challenges affecting children of all ages and ethnicities. Almost 19% of children and adolescents worldwide are overweight or obese, with an upward trend in the last decades. These reports imply an increased risk of fat accumulation in hepatic cells leading to a series of histological hepatic damages gathered under the acronym NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease). Due to the complex dynamics underlying this condition, it has been recently renamed as ‘Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD)’, supporting the hypothesis that hepatic steatosis is a key component of the large group of clinical and laboratory abnormalities of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). This review aims to share the latest scientific knowledge on MAFLD in children in an attempt to offer novel insights into the complex dynamics underlying this condition, focusing on the novel molecular aspects. Although there is still no treatment with a proven efficacy for this condition, starting from the molecular basis of the disease, MAFLD’s therapeutic landscape is rapidly expanding, and different medications seem to act as modifiers of liver steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis.

Criteria in the Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome in Children: A Scoping Review

“…Therefore, obesity should not be considered as mainly specific to adulthood, and thus it is important to identify it in childhood due to its relationship with the probable origin of the mentioned pathologies. 49 An interesting point is the high prevalence of elevated triglyceride levels and low HDL-c, mainly in the studies by Rosini et al, 13 Guzman-Guzman et al, 21 and Peña-Espinoza et al 18 and in Latin American countries such as Mexico and Brazil. However, low prevalences for these risk parameters can also be found in children with MetS, as is the case in the study by Matsushita et al 20 This has also allowed studies to be carried out based on the TG/HDL-c ratio as a useful marker in the diagnosis of MetS in children with obesity, as is the case of the CASPIAN-V study, in which it was https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S430360…”

Effect of Gestational Fish Oil Supplementation on Liver Metabolism and Mitochondria of Male and Female Rat Offspring Programmed by Maternal High‐Fat Diet

“…The early onset of fatty liver in children is a growing concern, [ 17 ] and the role of the maternal diet during perinatal life is increasingly evident. [ 18 ] Therefore, early life interventions through maternal nutrition are potential successful approaches to prevent metabolic diseases.…”

Joint modeling of association networks and longitudinal biomarkers: An application to childhood obesity

“…Obesity and high BMI can lead to chronic low-grade inflammation, which increases the risk of hepatic fibrosis and HSC activation. 56 Obese children exhibit altered levels of these amino acids in their blood compared to non-obese ones. 57…”

“…Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a role in the development of hepatic fibrosis by producing and regulating ECM proteins. Obesity and high BMI can lead to chronic low‐grade inflammation, which increases the risk of hepatic fibrosis and HSC activation 56 . Obese children exhibit altered levels of these amino acids in their blood compared to non‐obese ones 57 …”