Frequency of increased aminotransferases levels and associated metabolic abnormalities in obese and overweight children of an elementary school in Mexico City

Prevalence and predictors of alanine aminotransferase elevation among normal weight, overweight and obese youth in Mexico

“…Nearly 7% of the Mexican youth in our study had elevated ALT levels, while the prevalence of ALT > 40 U/L reported by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was found to be 3.6%. Our results also indicated that 28.9% of the obese youth had elevated ALT levels, which is comparable to 36% of obese Hispanic youth who were found to have elevated ALT levels in a study by Schwimmer et al ., and 42% of overweight and obese children with elevated ALT in Mexico reported by Flores‐Calderón et al …”

“…This is particularly relevant for Mexican youth, as some studies have indicated that after controlling for factors such as body mass index (BMI) and gender, the prevalence of NAFLD is higher in Hispanic youth than that among those with other racial or ethnic backgrounds. Although several studies have examined the risk of NAFLD among specific pediatric groups including Hispanic youth, few on the prevalence and risk factors associated with this disease among Hispanic youth outside the USA have been published . This absence of data limits our ability to develop effective and appropriate primary prevention programs and services for groups at risk of developing liver disease.…”

Ghrelin and leptin modulate immunity and liver function in overweight children

“…But these examinations were not feasible in the setting of the present study. Consequently blood chemistry data (AST/ALT < 1 and ALT > 35 IU/L) was used for the diagnosis of fatty liver (presumed NAFLD) 18 . According to this criterion, the incidence of presumed NAFLD was 28.6%, which is almost the same as the previously reported incidence in obese children 29,30 .…”

“…AST/ALT ratio was used to derive a liver function index. In the present study, presumed NAFLD was defined from the blood chemistry data (AST/ALT <1 and ALT >35 U/L) 18 …”

Alanine transferase: An independent indicator of adiposity related comorbidity risk in youth

“…A more recent study of more than 600 obese children revealed 16% of the subjects had ALT levels >40 U/L . In studies of obese children and adolescents with elevated ALT, ALT has been shown to correlate with gender (higher in boys than girls), ethnicity/race (highest in Mexican Americans, lowest in African‐Americans), BMI, waist circumference, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), CRP, fasting glucose and insulin levels, and TG . The most recent practice guidelines from the Endocrine Society recommend screening obese and overweight children for increased ALT (abnormal defined as > 2 SD above the mean for the laboratory) as a marker of NAFLD .…”