Individuals with low birthweight 4 times more likely to develop NAFLD later in life
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Key takeaways:
- Those with low vs. normal or high birthweight were four times more likely to develop NAFLD later in life.
- There also was a positive association with later NAFLD among those born small for gestational age.
Individuals with low birthweight or born small for gestational age were significantly more likely to develop nonalcoholic fatty liver disease later in life, with additionally higher odds for more severe NAFLD, according to data at UEG Week.
“While previous research has established the link between birthweight and major diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, the connection to [metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)] remained unclear,” Fahim Ebrahimi, MD, MSc, of the department of medical epidemiology and biostatistics at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, said in a related press release. “Our study now provides compelling evidence that fetal developmental factors play a significant role in the development of MASLD and progressive liver disease.”
Using data from the Swedish ESPRESSO cohort, Ebrahimi and colleagues identified 165 children, adolescents and adults aged 25 years or younger who were diagnosed with NAFLD, now known as MASLD, between January 1992 and April 2017. The median age at diagnosis was 12 years and most were male (60.6%).
Researchers matched those individuals by age, sex, calendar year and county of residence with 717 controls from the general population to examine the link between perinatal characteristics and development of NAFLD.
According to results, individuals with low or very low birthweight (< 2,500 g) were four times more likely to develop NAFLD later in life (adjusted OR = 4.24; 95% CI, 1.03-17.53) compared with those with normal (2,500-4,000 g; aOR = 1) or high (> 4,000 g; aOR = 0.62) birthweight.
Researchers also reported a positive association between NAFLD and those born small for gestational age (< 10th percentile; aOR = 3.12; 95% CI, 1.84-5.29) compared with those adequate (10-90th percentile; aOR = 1) or large (> 90th percentile; aOR = 0.55; 95% CI, 0.26-1.18) for gestational age.
“Further research is needed to fully understand the underlying immunological and metabolic mechanisms,” Ebrahimi said. “Several studies suggest that both overnutrition and undernutrition during pregnancy can lead to lasting epigenetic changes that can affect an individual’s metabolism for a lifetime.”
Results also showed that more severe disease, including liver fibrosis or cirrhosis, was more likely among individuals born with low birthweight (aOR = 4.24; 95% CI, 1.03-17.53) or small for gestational age (aOR = 4.33; 95% CI, 1.85-10.1).
“It is deeply concerning that individuals born with a low birthweight face a heightened relative risk of this disease at a young age, as early-onset MASLD often persists into adulthood and has been associated with an increased risk of developing cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease,” Ebrahimi said in the release. “Moving forward, it is important that we develop proactive and effective strategies, such as early and targeted screening, to identify at-risk individuals and help reduce the burden of this disease.”
Reference:
- UEG. Babies with a low birthweight are four times more likely to develop fatty liver disease in later life, new study shows. Available at: https://ueg.eu/a/342. Accessed: Oct. 16, 2023.
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Ebrahimi F, et al. Perinatal characteristics and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children, adolescents and young adults – A nationwide population-based case-control study. Presented at: UEG Week; Oct. 14-17, 2023; Copenhagen, Denmark (hybrid meeting).
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