Ultrasound measurement of abdominal visceral adipose tissue is relate to biomarkers of NAFLD in the young

Background: it was recently questioned whether visceral adipose tissue (VAT) excess may cause non alcoholic fatty liver disease already in the young age, predisposing to the metabolic syndrome in the adulthood, but evidence is limited. Ultrasound is an accurate, convenient and non-invasive technique to asses VAT in the young and is routinarily used at ICANS. Aim of this study was to investigate the association of VAT with biomarkers of NAFLD (ALT, AST, gammaGT) and insulin resistent in young subject taking into account potential confounders as gender, age, body mass index (BMI) and total body fat (BF%). Methods: Ninety-two subjects aged 14±2.1yr were enrolled. Anthropometric measurements (body weight, body height, waist circumference WC), body composition analysis by air displacement plethismography (BOD-POD), biomarkers of NAFLD were collected. VAT and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were measured by Ultrasonography (LOGIQ 3 Pro GE). Results: In a multiple regression model adjusted for age, gender and BMI-z, only VAT and not SAT nor %BF was a significant positive predictor of serum ALT, GGT and insulinemia. Conclusion: our data support the hypothesis that already in the young age VAT excess may be a risk factor for NAFLD and future metabolic syndrome. Therefore, Ultrasonography applied routinarily in pediatric subjects, may be a useful tool in nutritional assessment.