Cut off values of visceral adiposity for the prediction of non alchoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract EN

Background: Non- alcoholic fatty liver disease includes a broad spectrum of liver tissue alterations, ranging from pure steatosis to non- alcoholic steatohepatitis to cirrhosis.

Studies demonstrated that visceral adiposity is a risk factor for pediatric NAFLD and that visceral adiposity increases in parallel with the steatosis degree.

Aim: To determine the visceral adiposity thickness cut off points as a risk factor for the development of NAFLD in obese adolescents.

Results: No significant association was found between ALT and the ultrasonographic grades of NAFLD.

No significant difference was found in AST across the different sonographic grades of NAFLD, Significant difference was found in BMI (Kg/m2), hip circumference, waist circumference, abdominal skin fold thickness, fat mass, visceral fat thickness, serum cholesterol and blood glucose according to the different sonographic grades of the non- alcoholic fatty liver disease among patients.

Where patients with grade 3 NAFLD had significant higher values than patients with grade 2 NAFLD and 1 NAFLD.

Patients with grade 2 NAFLD had significant higher fat mass, abdominal skin fold thickness, waist and hip circumferences, and BMI than grade 1 NAFLD, Cut off points for visceral fat thickness is 3.55 cm for female patients and 3.9 cm for male patients, which can be predictive of NAFLD in obese adolescents.

Conclusion: Measurements of liver enzymes alone are insufficient, and liver ultrasonography is required for early identification of NAFLD, The expansion of visceral fat was associated with the severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in obese adolescents.

Visceral fat thickness above 3.55 cm for obese adolescents females and above 3.9 cm for obese adolescents males can be predictive of NAFLD.