Circulating fatty acids (FA) may have a role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children with obesity.

Thus a study evaluated the serum FA concentration in 80 children with obesity and NAFLD. Those having viral hepatitis, autoimmune, toxic and selected metabolic liver diseases were excluded. 

NAFLD was diagnosed by the presence of liver steatosis in ultrasound and an elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) serum activity. Magnetic resonance proton spectroscopy (1H-MRS) was utilized to assess the total intrahepatic lipid content (TILC). Further, Gas-liquid chromatography was utilized to measure fasting serum FA concentrations in all children.

The observations of the study were as follows- 

• 31 children were diagnosed with NAFLD.
• Obese children, as well as obese children with NAFLD, showed significantly higher Total FA concentration compared to controls. 
• Total FA concentration showed a positive correlation with cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin, in children with NAFLD 
• TILC showed a positive correlation with saturated fatty acids concentration in children with obesity.

Thus fatty acids were concluded to be potentially involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD in children with obesity.

Source: Nutrition, 2021;111541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2021.111541.