Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in obese adolescent females is associated with multi-tissue insulin resistance and visceral adiposity markers.

objectiveNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with insulin resistance (IR) and visceral adiposity in adults and boys, but girls with NAFLD are understudied. We sought to evaluate adipose, liver, and skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity in obese adolescent females with or without hepatic steatosis (HS) (intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) content >5.5%) along with cardiometabolic components typically associated with IR. STUDY

design73 obese adolescent girls at high risk for NAFLD were enrolled. Participants underwent fasting labs, an MRI to measure IHTG and visceral fat,

resultsDuring hyperinsulinemia, participants with HS vs. non-HS had failure to suppress free fatty acids (p = 0.008), endogenous glucose release (p = 0.002), and a lower glucose metabolic rate of disappearance (Rd) (p = 0.012). Girls with NALFD also had higher visceral fat (p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.026), triglycerides (p = 0.02), ALT (p < 0.01) and white blood cell count (p < 0.01), and lower adiponectin (p = 0.02). There was no difference between girls with and without HS in systemic glycerol turnover measured with glycerol release, or in IMCL, mitochondrial function or VO

conclusionsObese adolescent girls with HS have evidence of multi-tissue IR, visceral adiposity, inflammation and multiple components of the metabolic syndrome, arguing for close cardiometabolic surveillance over time of girls with HS.