Pediatric Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD): A “New” Disease

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 May 2021) | Viewed by 3337

Special Issue Editor

Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, 80133, Italy
Interests: pediatric obesity, insulin-resistance, beta-cell function, non-alchoolic fatty liver disease

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

During the last few decades, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common cause of chronic liver disease in children. The rise in its prevalence has paralleled the pediatric obesity epidemic. Recently, a new definition for NAFLD has been proposed: metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). This new definition highlights the pivotal role of obesity in MAFLD diagnosis and progression. Several studies have clearly demonstrated that NAFLD represents the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. In particular, NAFLD is actively involved in worsening insulin-resistance and in the derangement of glucose homeostasis. Many challenges arise from this new definition. The first lies in the identification of non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers and imaging tools. Moreover, new targeted therapies to treat the metabolic abnormalities associated with fatty liver are needed. We invite investigators to contribute review articles as well as original research articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand the natural history, pathogenesis, diagnostic tools, and comorbidities of MAFLD.

Dr. Giuseppina Rosaria Umano
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
  • obesity
  • children and adolescents
  • metabolic syndrome
  • insulin resistance
  • ectopic fat

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

7 pages, 435 KiB  
Article
Glutamate–Serine–Glycine Index: A Novel Potential Biomarker in Pediatric Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
by Simone Leonetti, Raimund I. Herzog, Sonia Caprio, Nicola Santoro and Domenico Tricò
Children 2020, 7(12), 270; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/children7120270 - 04 Dec 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2518
Abstract
Preliminary evidence suggests that the glutamate–serine–glycine (GSG) index, which combines three amino acids involved in glutathione synthesis, may be used as a potential biomarker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated whether the GSG index is associated with NAFLD in youth, independent [...] Read more.
Preliminary evidence suggests that the glutamate–serine–glycine (GSG) index, which combines three amino acids involved in glutathione synthesis, may be used as a potential biomarker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated whether the GSG index is associated with NAFLD in youth, independent of other risk factors. Intrahepatic fat content (HFF%) and abdominal fat distribution were measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a multiethnic cohort of obese adolescents, including Caucasians, African Americans, and Hispanics. NAFLD was defined as HFF% ≥ 5.5%. Plasma amino acids were measured by mass spectrometry. The GSG index was calculated as glutamate/(serine + glycine). The GSG index was higher in NAFLD patients (p = 0.03) and positively correlated with HFF% (r = 0.26, p = 0.02), alanine aminotransferase (r = 0.39, p = 0.0006), and aspartate aminotransferase (r = 0.26, p = 0.03). Adolescents with a high GSG index had a twofold higher prevalence of NAFLD than those with a low GSG index, despite similar adiposity, abdominal fat distribution, and liver insulin resistance. NAFLD prevalence remained significantly different between groups after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and body mass index (OR 3.07, 95% confidence interval 1.09–8.61, p = 0.03). This study demonstrates the ability of the GSG index to detect NAFLD in at-risk pediatric populations with different genetically determined susceptibilities to intrahepatic fat accumulation, independent of traditional risk factors. Full article
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