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Early interplay of intra-hepatic iron and insulin resistance in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Source :
-
Journal of hepatology [J Hepatol] 2011 Sep; Vol. 55 (3), pp. 647-653. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Dec 17. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Background & Aims: The liver is a crucial organ at the crossroads of iron and glucose metabolism. The aim of the study was to assess intra-hepatic iron in young patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its association with insulin resistance and severity of liver damage.<br />Methods: Intrahepatic iron content was assessed (Pearl's stain grade) in 66 patients (41 males, age 3.3-17.6years) with biopsy-proven NAFLD. Mutations of the Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HFE) gene were determined by sequence allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. Insulin resistance was estimated by means of the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test and the Insulin Sensitivity Index (ISI); the Insulino-Genic Index was also calculated. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 were measured.<br />Results: Low-mild intra-hepatic iron deposition was observed in one out of five children (n=15, 22%), and it was not associated with HFE mutations, carried by 17 patients (26%). Among carriers of HFE mutations, four had siderosis. No abnormalities were observed in systemic indices of iron balance. Serum ferritin was within normal adult ranges in all patients (33.6±7.6ng/ml), but it was correlated with ISI (r(o)=-0.361; p=0.003). No significant difference was observed in insulin sensitivity, iron balance, inflammatory milieu, and liver histology between patients with and without hepatic siderosis.<br />Conclusions: In young obese individuals with NAFLD, despite normal peripheral iron parameters, mild intra-hepatic iron deposition is a frequent finding, but it is not associated with insulin resistance or severity of liver damage. Longitudinal studies are required to define the long-term relevance of these findings.<br /> (Copyright © 2011 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Child
Child, Preschool
Fatty Liver complications
Fatty Liver genetics
Fatty Liver pathology
Female
Ferritins blood
Glucose Tolerance Test
Hemochromatosis Protein
Hemosiderosis complications
Hemosiderosis pathology
Heterozygote
Histocompatibility Antigens Class I genetics
Humans
Liver pathology
Male
Membrane Proteins genetics
Mutation
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty Liver metabolism
Hemosiderosis metabolism
Insulin Resistance
Iron metabolism
Liver metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1600-0641
- Volume :
- 55
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of hepatology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21168460
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2010.12.007