Elevated transaminases potentiate the risk for emerging dysglycemia in children with overweight and obesity

Pediatr Obes. 2021 Dec;16(12):e12822. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12822. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Abstract

Background: There is evidence that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) increases the risk for dysglycemia in children in cross-sectional studies. However, the extent to which NAFLD may confer the risk for dysglycemia in longitudinal studies remains uncertain.

Objectives: We investigated whether elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as a proxy for NAFLD can serve as a predictor for future dysglycemia among children.

Methods: We performed survival analysis up to 11 years of follow-up on longitudinal data of 510 children with overweight and obesity from the Leipzig Childhood Cohort.

Results: Children with overweight/obesity and elevated ALT values had a more than 2-fold increased risk (hazard ratio 2.59, 95% confidence interval 1.49 to 4.50; P < 0.01) for future dysglycemia independent of age, sex and BMI-SDS.

Conclusions: Elevated transaminases are an early predictor for glycemic deterioration. Hence, NAFLD should further be addressed as a risk factor and therapeutic target for the early prevention of type 2 diabetes.

Keywords: childhood obesity; dysglycemia; early-onset diabetes; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; prediabetes; type 2 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*
  • Humans
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Overweight*
  • Transaminases

Substances

  • Transaminases