Adipocytokines as risk factors of the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children

Abstract Background and aim Noninvasive diagnostics of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common cause of liver dysfunction in children, is based on imaging, biochemical tests, and their compilation. The study aimed to evaluate the serological biomarkers of steatosis, inflammation and liver fibrosis to assess the risk of NAFLD in children. Methods A total of 73 children were included in the prospective study; 50 of them were diagnosed with NAFLD based on ultrasound, 23 was a control group. Basic anthropometric parameters were measured, blood samples were taken for laboratory tests and evaluated proteins assessed by ELISA - adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), fibrosis growth factor-21 (FGF-21), liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) and interleukin-6. Results Statistically significant differences between the levels of two proteins were found: adiponectin level was lower in NAFLD group (12.24±7.01 vs 16.88±9.21 μg/mL, p=0.024), L-FABP higher (21.48±20.61 vs 11.74±8.39 ng/mL, p=0.031). In the group of children with BMI-for-age> 1 SD, adiponectin concentration was also significantly lower (12.18±6.43 μg/mL) compared to the group with BMI Conclusion Adiponectin may be useful in evaluating the risk of NAFLD and obesity in children.