Accelerated infant weight gain and risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in early adulthood

LM Breij, GF Kerkhof… - The Journal of Clinical …, 2014 - academic.oup.com
LM Breij, GF Kerkhof, ACS Hokken-Koelega
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2014academic.oup.com
Introduction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the hepatic metabolic
syndrome. Some studies demonstrated an association between small size at birth and
NAFLD. Rapid catch-up in weight often follows small birth size and has been associated
with metabolic syndrome, but its association with NAFLD remained unknown. Patients and
Methods: In 268 adults aged 18–24 years, body mass index, waist circumference,
triglyceride, γ-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and …
Introduction
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the hepatic metabolic syndrome. Some studies demonstrated an association between small size at birth and NAFLD. Rapid catch-up in weight often follows small birth size and has been associated with metabolic syndrome, but its association with NAFLD remained unknown.
Patients and Methods
In 268 adults aged 18–24 years, body mass index, waist circumference, triglyceride, γ-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase levels were determined. Fatty liver index (FLI; 0–100) was calculated. Associations of birth weight SD score and first year gain in weight and length SD scores were determined with FLI and other liver markers. Comparisons were performed between subjects with and without rapid catch-up in weight in the first year of life. Furthermore, a FLI score (low, intermediate, high risk for NAFLD) was assigned to each participant to determine clinical relevance, and ordinal regression analyses were performed.
Results
Gain in weight in the first 3 months of life was associated with FLI as a continuous variable, whereas low birth weight was not. There were no significant associations with γ-glutamyltransferase, alanine aminotransferase, or aspartate aminotransferase. Of the subjects with rapid catch-up in weight for length, 27.8% had an intermediate or high FLI at the age of 21 years, compared with 5.3% of subjects with slow catch-up. Rapid catch-up was also associated with a higher FLI score after adjustments (odds ratio, 11.7; P = .016).
Conclusion
Accelerated gain in weight for length in the first 3 months of life is associated with a higher risk for NAFLD in early adulthood, whereas small size at birth is not.
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