Serum Alanine Aminotransferase Trends and Their Relationship with Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in United States Adolescents, 1999-2014.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by hepatocyte dysfunction, fat accumulation, and fibrosis, is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in children. Elevated levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) are used clinically to identify potential liver dysfunction. Our goal was to assess for changes in the national prevalence of elevated ALT over time and potential relationship to trends in the metabolic syndrome (MetS) severity and elevated body mass index (BMI).

Materials and methods

We studied 5411 non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic adolescents aged 12-19 with complete MetS Z-score and ALT data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2014. Elevated ALT levels were defined by two different c

SUBMITTER: Fermin CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5564053 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature