Relation between Liver Transaminases and Dyslipidaemia among 2-10 y.o. Northern Mexican Children

Abstract

Background and AimsThe increase in overweight and obese children may be linked to increased rates of liver damage and dyslipidaemia. This study aimed to explore the associations of liver biomarkers with overweight/obesity and dyslipidaemia in Mexican children.MethodsThe study was a population-based cross-sectional nutritional survey carried out in the State of Nuevo León, Mexico. The study included a 414 subjects aged between 2 and 10 years old (47.8% girls) who took part in the State Survey of Nutrition and Health–Nuevo León 2011/2012. Associations between alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT/AST ratio, and major components of serum lipid profile were assessed.ResultsChildren with high ALT (defined as ≥P75) showed higher prevalence of dyslipidaemia than their counterparts, with high prevalence of high TChol (P = 0.053), non-HDL-chol, TG, and low HDL-chol. Children with an AST/ALT ≥T3 ratio were 0.43-times (95% CI: 0.25–0.74) and 0.27-times (95% CI: 0.17–0.44) low likely to be overweight/obese and to have dyslipidaemia than those with an AST/ALT <T1 ratio, respectively. The risk of high TChol, LDL-chol, non-HDL-chol and TG, and low HDL-chol levels also decreased in AST/ALT ratio groups.ConclusionsOur results pose the need for further investigation on whether AST/ALT may be useful as screening test in the assessment of children with cardiometabolic risk.

Prevalence of increased transaminases and its association with sex, age, and metabolic parameters in children and adolescents with obesity – a nationwide cross-sectional cohort study

“…While pediatric NAFLD has been positively associated with atherogenic lipid components in the general population [ 44 – 47 ], study on this association in children and adolescents with obesity demonstrated diverging results [ 15 , 21 , 23 , 48 ]. A hospital-based study indicated association between NAFLD and dyslipidemia [ 48 ], while a large population-based study did not detect such association [ 15 ].…”

Updated reference ranges for aminotransferase levels of Korean children and young adolescents based on the risk factors for metabolic syndrome

“…Furthermore, in a Canadian study, the cutoff value for ALT was suggested to be 30 mg/dl in children between 1 and 12 years of age and 24 mg/dl in those between 13 and 19 years 11 . In other regions, including Europe 12 , 13 , the United Kingdom 14 , Mexico 15 , Sweden 16 , Iran 17 , Taiwan 18 and China 19 , the reference ranges of liver enzymes in children were evaluated in a similar manner. However, in Korean children and adolescents, the similar studies were not population-based, and the association with MetS was not analyzed 20 or adult data 21 .…”

Updated reference ranges for aminotransferase levels of Korean children and young adolescents based on the risk factors for metabolic syndrome

“…Furthermore, in a Canadian study, the cutoff value for ALT was suggested to be 30 mg/dl in children between 1 and 12 years of age and 24 mg/dl in those between 13 and 19 years 9 . In other regions, including Europe 10,11 , the United Kingdom 12 , Mexico 13 , Sweden 14 , Iran 15 , Taiwan 16 and China 17 , the reference ranges of liver enzymes in children were evaluated in a similar manner. However, in Korean children and adolescents, the similar studies were not populationbased, and the association with metabolic syndrome was not analyzed 18 or adult data 19 .…”