STUDY THE BLOOD LIPID CONCENTRATIONS AND HEPATIC STEATOSIS IN OVERWEIGHT-OBESE CHILDREN AGED 2-15 YEARS AT PEDIATRICS DEPARTMENT, HUE CENTRAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Nowadays, childhood obesity is the 2nd priority health issue in the prevention and control of diseases in Asian countries. In Vietnam, obesity is alarming in children but not interested appropriately by the family and medical staff. Obesity and obesity-related conditions in adults are relatively studied frequently, however, in children they are much fewer and rather sporadic. There is evidence of a close association between obesity, dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis in children; such disorders affect health, development and even lives of children. The aim of this study is to evaluate lipid profile and hepatic steatosis in overweight/obese children. Subjects and Methods: Overweight/ obese children aged 2 to 15 years who had a clinic visit at the Pediatric Department, Hue Central Hospital from May 2011 to June 2012. 40 children with eligibility criteria were included in the study. Method: descriptive cross-sectional. Lipid profile and liver ultrasound in these children were done to evaluate the status of hepatic steatosis. Results: There is a change in concentration of all lipid parameters in overweight/obese group compared to the control group. 37.5% of children with hypercholesterolemia; 50% of children with increased blood triglyceride, 25% of children with low blood levels of HDL-C; 17.5% of children with elevated blood LDL-C level. 40% of children with hepatic steatosis, mainly steatosis grade I (81.3%), and only one case of hepatic steatosis grade III (6.2%). Fatty liver ratio increased gradually with age but the difference was not statistically significant (p> 0.05). Central obese children showed a higher rate of fatty liver than peripheral obese children but there was no statistical significance. There is an association between blood levels of triglycerides, cholesterol and fatty liver. Conclusion: The study showed disturbances in blood lipid concentrations and fatty liver in overweight/obese children, and a correlation between blood levels of triglyceride and cholesterol with fatty liver status. Key words: overweight/obesity, hepatic steatosis, disturbances, blood lipids