Serum concentration of fatty acids in children with obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract Background Circulating fatty acids (FA) are suggested to take part in pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children with obesity. Aims To evaluate the serum FA concentration in children with obesity and NAFLD. Methods The prospective study included 80 children with obesity and suspected liver disease. Patients with viral hepatitis, autoimmune, toxic and selected metabolic liver diseases were excluded. Criteria for NAFLD diagnosis included liver steatosis in ultrasound as well as elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) serum activity. The total intrahepatic lipid content (TILC) was assessed by magnetic resonance proton spectroscopy (1H-MRS). Fasting serum FA concentrations were measured in all children using gas–liquid chromatography. Results NAFLD was diagnosed in 31 children. Total FA concentration was significantly higher (p Conclusion Our data do support the hypothesis that fatty acids are potentially involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD in children with obesity.