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Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing problem in children. Children with NAFLD are at potentially high risk for developing T2D; however, the incidence of T2D in this population is unknown. This study aimed to determine the incidence of T2D in children with NAFLD and identify associated risk factors.Children with NAFLD enrolled in the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network were followed longitudinally. Incidence of T2D was determined by using clinical history and fasting laboratory values. Cumulative incidence curves were developed for time to T2D. A Cox regression multivariable model was constructed using best subsets Akaike's Information Criteria selection.This study included 892 children with NAFLD and with a mean age of 12.8 years (2.7) followed for 3.8 years (2.3) with a total 3234 person-years at risk. The incidence rate of T2D was 3000 new cases per 100,000 person-years at risk. At baseline, 63 children had T2D, and during follow-up, an additional 97 children developed incident T2D, resulting in a period prevalence of 16.8%. Incident T2D was significantly higher in females versus males (hazard ratio [HR], 1.8 [1.0-2.8]), associated with BMI z-score (HR, 1.8 [1.0-3.0]), and more severe liver histology including steatosis grade (HR, 1.3 [1.0-1.7]), and fibrosis stage (HR, 1.3 [1.0-1.5]).Children with NAFLD are at high risk for existing and incident T2D. In addition to known risk factors for T2D (female and BMI z-score), severity of liver histology at the time of NAFLD diagnosis was independently associated with T2D development. Targeted strategies to prevent T2D in children with NAFLD are needed.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of health-related social needs among youth with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: Retrospective review of prospectively administered health-related social needs questionnaires from Steatohepatitis Clinics. RESULTS: Patients with NAFLD (n=271) were predominantly male (72%), and non-Hispanic (68%). The most common unmet need was food insecurity (13%, n=36). Families who endorsed food insecurity at the first visit were 27-fold more likely to have unmet health-related social needs persist at subsequent visits than those who were food-secure at their first visit (95% CI: 6.7–111). CONCLUSION: Screening for social, economic, and environmental needs may identify previously unrecognized family challenges and may enhance intervention delivery, inform resource allocation, and improve outcomes.

IntroductionTo gain insights into the mechanisms underlying distinct nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) histological phenotypes between children and adults, we compared hepatic gene expression profiles associated with NAFLD phenotypes between the two age groups.MethodsHistological characteristics of intra-operative liver biopsies from adolescents and adults undergoing bariatric surgery were assessed by the same pathologist using the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) Clinical Research Network scoring system. Hepatic gene expression was measured by microarray analysis. Transcriptomic signatures of histological phenotypes between the two groups were compared, with significance defined as p-value 1.5.ResultsIn 67 adolescents and 76 adults, distribution of histological phenotypes was: not-NAFLD (controls) 51% vs 39%, NAFL 39% vs 37%, and NASH 10% vs 24%, respectively. There were 279 differentially expressed genes in adolescents and 213 in adults with NAFLD vs controls. In adolescents, transcriptomes for NAFL vs controls, and borderline vs definite NASH were undifferentiable, whereas in adults, NAFL and borderline NASH demonstrated a transcriptomic gradient between controls and definite NASH. When applied to adolescents, significant adult genes discriminated borderline and definite NASH from control and NAFL, but the majority of significant pediatric genes were not portable to adults. Genes associated with NASH in adolescents and adults showed some ontological consistency but notable differences.ConclusionsThere is some similarity but major differences in the transcriptomic profiles associated with NAFLD between adolescents and adults with severe obesity. These data suggest different mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of NAFLD severity at different stages in life.Study HighlightsWHAT IS KNOWNNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in children and adultsNAFLD histological features and severity differ between children and adults but reasons for these differences are not clear.WHAT IS NEW HEREComparison of hepatic gene expression profiles between adolescents and adults with severe obesity and NAFLD showed some similarities but major differences in expressed genesThe findings suggest the mechanisms driving different NAFLD severity and phenotypes are different at different stages in life.

To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) who reduce their body mass index (BMI) z-score (BMIz) by.25, a goal in obesity medicine, and to determine the BMIz decrease needed for serum aminotransferase normalization.This retrospective, single-center study included patients aged18 years followed for NAFLD. Patients who had undergone weight loss surgery or had other reasons for weight loss/gain were excluded. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds of achieving a BMIz change of-.25, as well as predictors of this outcome.Of the 784 children who met the study criteria (median age, 13 years; 66% male; 24% Hispanic), 541 had a lowest BMIz at90 days following the baseline clinic visit. Of these children, 168 (31%) had a BMIz change of-.25 from baseline over a median of 367 days (IQR, 201-678 days). Decreases in serum aminotransferase and lipid levels were seen in both groups (with and without a BMIz change of-.25); however, these decreases were more pronounced in children who achieved a BMIz drop of.25. Hemoglobin A1c concentration did not change in either group. Young age (OR, .861; 95% CI, .81-.92; P .01) and non-Hispanic ethnicity (OR of non-Hispanic vs Hispanic, .61; 95% CI, .38-.97; P .04) were predictors of a BMIz change -.25. The BMIz decrease associated with normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase was .27.A BMIz reduction of.25 is associated with significant changes in serum aminotransferase levels. These findings can further guide the clinical management of children with NAFLD.