Vascular function in obese children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

AbstractObjective. To test whether obese children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease have impaired vascular function compared with obese children with normal liver fat content. Methods. Obese children (n=28, 16 males, mean age 10.9±0.7 years, body mass index [BMI] 31.9±4.5 kg/m2) with normal (HCLn) and increased hepatocellular lipid content (HCLi, 2.6±0.8 vs. 12.4±8.2%) were recruited, outcome measures being flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery [FMD] measured by ultrasound, biochemical markers of inflammation (hs-CRP, hs-IL6) and cell adhesion molecules [CAMs], hepatocellular lipids, visceral and subcutaneous fat quantified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging. Results. HCLi and HCLn groups showed no significant differences in terms of age, gender, BMI, waist circumference and subcutaneous fat. Subjects in the HCLi group had significantly higher amounts of visceral fat and higher fasting glucose, insulin and triglyceride, but lower adiponectin levels and were more insulin re...