scholarly journals Alanine Aminotransferase Levels and Fatty Liver in Childhood Obesity: Associations with Insulin Resistance, Adiponectin, and Visceral Fat

2006 ◽  
Vol 91 (11) ◽  
pp. 4287-4294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania S. Burgert ◽  
Sara E. Taksali ◽  
James Dziura ◽  
T. Robin Goodman ◽  
Catherine W. Yeckel ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Concurrent with the rise in obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is recognized as the leading cause of serum aminotransferase elevations in obese youth. Nevertheless, the complete metabolic phenotype associated with abnormalities in biomarkers of liver injury and intrahepatic fat accumulation remains to be established. Methods: In a multiethnic cohort of 392 obese adolescents, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were related with parameters of insulin sensitivity, glucose, and lipid metabolism as well as adipocytokines and biomarkers of inflammation. A subset of 72 adolescents had determination of abdominal fat partitioning and intrahepatic fat accumulation using magnetic resonance imaging. Findings: Elevated ALT (>35 U/liter) was found in 14% of adolescents, with a predominance of male gender and white/Hispanic race/ethnicity. After adjusting for potential confounders, rising ALT was associated with reduced insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance as well as rising free fatty acids and triglycerides. Worsening of glucose and lipid metabolism was already evident as ALT levels rose into the upper half of the normal range (18–35 U/liter). When hepatic fat fraction was assessed using fast magnetic resonance imaging, 32% of subjects had an increased hepatic fat fraction, which was associated with decreased insulin sensitivity and adiponectin, and increased triglycerides, visceral fat, and deep to superficial sc fat ratio. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was significantly greater in those with fatty liver. Interpretation: Deterioration in glucose and lipid metabolism is associated even with modest ALT elevations. Hepatic fat accumulation in childhood obesity is strongly associated with the triad of insulin resistance, increased visceral fat, and hypoadiponectinemia. Hence, hepatic steatosis may be a core feature of the metabolic syndrome.

2011 ◽  
Vol 107 (10) ◽  
pp. 1429-1434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinjin Chen ◽  
Ren Wang ◽  
Xiao-Fang Li ◽  
Rui-Liang Wang

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium adolescentis (Bif) supplementation on visceral fat accumulation and insulin sensitivity of the metabolic syndrome in HF-diet-fed rats. Adult male Wistar rats (n 10 per group) were fed four different experimental diets for 12 weeks as follows: standard diet; high-fat (HF) diet; a mix of HF diet and Bif; a mix of standard diet and Bif. Liver, mesenteric fat, epididymal fat, retroperitoneal fat, and inguinal fat, pancreas and triceps surae in all four groups of the rats were weighed, while liver steatosis and insulin sensitivity were evaluated at the end point of the study. As the number of intestinal Bifidobacterium species decreased obviously, fat pad weight and body weight increased significantly in the HF group compared with in the other three groups (P <0·05). Addition of Bif led to a reduction in body weight and fat pad weight (P <0·05). With an increase in liver weight, more severe steatosis of hepatocytes was observed in the HF group compared with in the other three groups. A significant decrease of the glucose infusion rate and pancreas weight was found in the HF group (P <0·05). This deleterious effect was alleviated when Bif was added to the diets. Bifidobacterium supplementation ameliorated visceral fat accumulation and insulin sensitivity of the metabolic syndrome in HF-diet-fed rats.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larissa C. Novo ◽  
Ligia Cavani ◽  
Pablo Pinedo ◽  
Pedro Melendez ◽  
Francisco Peñagaricano

Visceral fat is related to important metabolic processes, including insulin sensitivity and lipid mobilization. The goal of this study was to identify individual genes, pathways, and molecular processes implicated in visceral fat deposition in dairy cows. Data from 172 genotyped Holstein cows classified at slaughterhouse as having low (n = 77; omental fold <5 mm in thickness and minimum fat deposition in omentum) or high (n = 95; omental fold ≥20 mm in thickness and marked fat deposition in omentum) omental fat were analyzed. The identification of regions with significant additive and non-additive genetic effects was performed using a two-step mixed model-based approach. Genomic scans were followed by gene-set analyses in order to reveal the genetic mechanisms controlling abdominal obesity. The association mapping revealed four regions located on BTA19, BTA20 and BTA24 with significant additive effects. These regions harbor genes, such as SMAD7, ANKRD55, and the HOXB family, that are implicated in lipolysis and insulin tolerance. Three regions located on BTA1, BTA13, and BTA24 showed marked non-additive effects. These regions harbor genes MRAP, MIS18A, PRNP and TSHZ1, that are directly implicated in adipocyte differentiation, lipid metabolism, and insulin sensitivity. The gene-set analysis revealed functional terms related to cell arrangement, cell metabolism, cell proliferation, cell signaling, immune response, lipid metabolism, and membrane permeability, among other functions. We further evaluated the genetic link between visceral fat and two metabolic disorders, ketosis, and displaced abomasum. For this, we analyzed 28k records of incidence of metabolic disorders from 14k cows across lactations using a single-step genomic BLUP approach. Notably, the region on BTA20 significantly associated with visceral fat deposition was also associated with the incidence of displaced abomasum. Overall, our findings suggest that visceral fat deposition in dairy cows is controlled by both additive and non-additive effects. We detected at least one region with marked pleiotropic effects affecting both visceral fat accumulation and displaced abomasum.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
pp. 1409-1416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Kadowaki ◽  
Yoshifumi Tamura ◽  
Yuki Someya ◽  
Kageumi Takeno ◽  
Hideyoshi Kaga ◽  
...  

Abstract Context Asians have a high prevalence of insulin resistance, even in the nonobese state. Whereas both visceral fat accumulation (VFA) and fatty liver (FL) have been shown to be associated with insulin resistance, it is still unclear which is a better marker to predict insulin resistance in nonobese Asians. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between VFA or FL and insulin resistance in nondiabetic nonobese Japanese men who do not have diabetes. Design and Participants We studied 87 nonobese (body mass index <25 kg/m2) Japanese men without diabetes. Using a two-step hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, we evaluated insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue, muscle, and liver. Intrahepatic lipid and abdominal visceral fat area were measured by 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and MRI, respectively. Subjects were divided into four groups based on the presence or absence of VFA (visceral fat area ≥100 cm2) and FL (intrahepatic lipid ≥ 5%): control (non-VFA, non-FL; n = 54), VFA only (n = 18), FL only (n = 7), and VFA plus FL (n = 8). Results Subjects in the FL only and VFA plus FL groups had insulin resistance in adipose tissue and muscle, as well as relatively lower hepatic insulin sensitivity. The specific insulin sensitivities in these organs were comparable in the VFA only and control groups. Conclusions In nonobese Japanese men without diabetes, subjects with FL only or VFA plus FL but not VFA only had insulin resistance, suggesting that FL may be a more useful clinical marker than VFA to predict insulin resistance in nonobese Japanese men without diabetes.


2013 ◽  
Vol 98 (7) ◽  
pp. 2993-3000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cosimo Giannini ◽  
Ariel E. Feldstein ◽  
Nicola Santoro ◽  
Grace Kim ◽  
Romy Kursawe ◽  
...  

Objective: Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21 is highly expressed in the liver and regulates glucose and lipid metabolism in rodents. The effects of obesity and fatty liver on circulating FGF-21 levels have been described mainly in adults. Herein, we measured plasma FGF-21 levels in lean and obese adolescents with low and high hepatic fat content (HFF% &lt;5.5% and HFF% ≥5.5%, respectively) and explored their relationship with hepatic fat content, measures of hepatic apoptosis, and insulin sensitivity. Methods: A total of 217 lean and obese adolescents with both low and high HFF% (lean = 31; obese low HFF% = 107; and obese high HFF% = 79) underwent an oral glucose tolerance test, a fast gradient magnetic resonance imaging to measure the %HFF and abdominal fat distribution. Cytokeratin 18 levels were measured as a biomarker of liver apoptosis. A subset of adolescents underwent a 2-step hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, and a liver biopsy (N = 14), to assess insulin sensitivity and steatohepatitis, respectively. Results: Compared to controls, FGF-21 levels were higher in obese youth, especially in those with high HFF (P &lt; .001). FGF-21 significantly correlated with adiposity indexes (P &lt; .001), visceral fat (r2 = 0.240, P &lt; .001), hepatic fat content (r2 = 0.278, P &lt; .001), cytokeratin 18 (r2 = 0.217, P &lt; .001), and alanine aminotransferase (r2 = .164, P &lt; .001). In subjects with steatoheaptitis, FGF-21 levels significantly correlated with the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (r2 = 0.27, P = .04). Stepwise regression analysis indicated that these relationships are independent of body mass index, visceral fat, and insulin sensitivity. An inverse correlation was documented with insulin, hepatic resistance indexes, and adipose resistance indexes, which disappeared after adjusting for hepatic fat content. Conclusions: Plasma FGF-21 levels are increased in obese adolescents, particularly in those with fatty liver. FGF-21 concentrations significantly and independently correlate with hepatic fat content and markers of hepatic apoptosis in obese youths.


2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (7) ◽  
pp. E526-E538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maerjianghan Abuduli ◽  
Hirokazu Ohminami ◽  
Tamaki Otani ◽  
Hitoshi Kubo ◽  
Haruka Ueda ◽  
...  

Recent epidemiological and animal studies have suggested that excess intake of phosphate (Pi) is a risk factor for the progression of chronic kidney disease and its cardiovascular complications. However, little is known about the impact of dietary high Pi intake on the development of metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary Pi on glucose and lipid metabolism in healthy rats. Male 8-wk-old Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups and given experimental diets containing varying amounts of Pi, i.e., 0.2 [low Pi (LP)], 0.6 [control Pi (CP)], and 1.2% [high Pi (HP)]. After 4 wk, the HP group showed lower visceral fat accumulation compared with other groups, accompanied by a low respiratory exchange ratio (V̇co2/V̇o2) without alteration of locomotive activity. The HP group had lower levels of plasma insulin and nonesterified fatty acids. In addition, the HP group also showed suppressed expression of hepatic lipogenic genes, including sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, fatty acid synthase, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, whereas there was no difference in hepatic fat oxidation among the groups. On the other hand, uncoupling protein (UCP) 1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) expression were significantly increased in the brown adipose tissue (BAT) of the HP group. Our data demonstrated that a high-Pi diet can negatively regulate lipid synthesis in the liver and increase mRNA expression related to lipid oxidation and UCP1 in BAT, thereby preventing visceral fat accumulation. Thus, dietary Pi is a novel metabolic regulator.


Diabetes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1854-P
Author(s):  
SATOSHI KADOWAKI ◽  
YOSHIFUMI TAMURA ◽  
YUKI SOMEYA ◽  
KAGEUMI TAKENO ◽  
TAKASHI FUNAYAMA ◽  
...  

1992 ◽  
Vol 127 (4) ◽  
pp. 344-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan A Vaag ◽  
Henning Beck-Nielsen

The effect of prolonged treatment with Acipimox on in vivo peripheral insulin sensitivity, and on glucose and lipid metabolism, was investigated in patients with NIDDM in a double-blind study. Twelve NIDDM patients were randomized to treatment with either placebo or Acipimox in pharmacological doses (250 mg×3) for three months. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, C-peptide and HbA1c concentrations were unaffected after three months of acipimox treatment. However, fasting plasma non-esterifled fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations were twofold elevated after Acipimox treatment (1.34±0.09 vs 0.66±0.09 mmol/l; p<0.05). Despite this, repeated acute Acipimox administration after the three months' treatment period enhanced total insulin-stimulated glucose disposal to the same extent as acute Acipimox administration before the treatment period (367±59 vs 392±66 mg·m−2·min−1, NS; both p<0.05 vs placebo glucose disposal) (267±44 mg·m−2·min−1). In conclusion, insulin resistance or tachyphylaxis towards the effects of Acipimox on insulin stimulated glucose disposal was not induced during prolonged Acipimox treatment. The lack of improvement of blood glucose control in the patients with NIDDM may be due to the demonstrated rebound effect of lipolysis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 241 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Martins Pereira ◽  
Kellen Cristina da Cruz Rodrigues ◽  
Chadi Pellegrini Anaruma ◽  
Marcella Ramos Sant’Ana ◽  
Thaís Dantis Pereira de Campos ◽  
...  

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a positive correlation with obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). The aerobic training is an important tool in combating NAFLD. However, no studies have demonstrated the molecular effects of short-term strength training on the accumulation of hepatic fat in obese mice. This study aimed to investigate the effects of short-term strength training on the mechanisms of oxidation and lipid synthesis in the liver of obese mice. The short duration protocol was used to avoid changing the amount of adipose tissue. Swiss mice were separated into three groups: lean control (CTL), sedentary obese (OB) and strength training obese (STO). The obese groups were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and the STO group performed the strength training protocol 1 session/day for 15 days. The short-term strength training reduced hepatic fat accumulation, increasing hepatic insulin sensitivity and controlling hepatic glucose production. The obese animals increased the mRNA of lipogenic genes Fasn and Scd1 and reduced the oxidative genes Cpt1a and Ppara. On the other hand, the STO group presented the opposite results. Finally, the obese animals presented higher levels of lipogenic proteins (ACC and FAS) and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β), but the short-term strength training was efficient in reducing this condition, regardless of body weight loss. In conclusion, there was a reduction of obesity-related hepatic lipogenesis and inflammation after short-term strength training, independent of weight loss, leading to improvements in hepatic insulin sensitivity and glycemic homeostasis in obese mice. Key points: (1) Short-term strength training (STST) reduced fat accumulation and inflammation in the liver; (2) Hepatic insulin sensitivity and HPG control were increased with STST; (3) The content and activity of ACC and content of FAS were reduced with STST; (4) STST improved hepatic fat accumulation and glycemic homeostasis; (5) STST effects were observed independently of body weight change.


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