402 Longitudinal Change of Liver Fat in Obese Children After a 12-Months Nutritional Intervention

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether an one-year nutritional-behaviour intervention based on normocaloric balanced diet and physical exercise may reduce the liver fat in obese children. Methods: Twenty-six obese children (11 males and 15 females), aged 6-14 years, underwent anthropometic, nutritional, metabolic and liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations at baseline and after an one-year nutritionalbehaviour intervention. Anthropometry included weight, height, waist and hip circumference and total upper arm area. Body mass index (BMI) z-scores were calculated. Biochemistry included serum aminotransferases, lipid profile, glucose and insulin. Liver steatosis was judged as hepatic fat fraction (FF) by MRI was ≥ 9%. Results: Prevalence of steatosis was 34.6 % at baseline and declined to 7.7 % after intervention (P< 0.0001). Mean (95% CI) reduction of liver FF was 8.0 (4.0-12.0) %. In 77.8% of children with liver steatosis at baseline the FF declined lower than 9% at the end of intervention, going from a mean [SD] of 18.7 [9.1] % to 1.3 [4.1] %, (P< 0.0001). At the end of the intervention children showed a mean reduction in BMI z-score of 0.26 (0.11- 0.41), and waist circumference of 1.46 (0.34-2.60) cm. Triglycerides, total cholesterol, ApoA1, ApoB, ApoA1/ApoB ratio and gamma-GT plasma values in plasma decreased at the end of intervention (P< 0.05). Conclusions: The results suggest that in obese children nutritional-behaviour interventions may reduce the liver fat.