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IGF accurately predicted NAFLD progression in obese children

Insulin-like growth factor-I and II levels predicted histological stages of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease among obese children in Italy, according to new study results.

Ninety-nine Caucasian children (mean age, 8.7 years; 57 males) with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) from the Hepatometabolic Unit of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, underwent liver biopsy, anthropometry, biochemical assessment and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) evaluations between January 2012 and June 2013. Researchers measured IGF-I, IGF-II and IGF binding protein (BP)-3 levels in all patients and considered their effects on inflammation, ballooning, fibrosis and steatosis.

Stepwise regression analysis showed IGF-I to be a predictor for NAFLD activity score (NAS; beta, –0.457; P<.0001) and ballooning (beta, –0.463; P<.0001); IGF-II to be a predictor of liver fibrosis (beta, 0.343; P<.005); and IGF-I/IGFBP-3 predicting liver inflammation (beta, –0.285; P=.005). Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was found in 14 patients.

Researchers also observed that IGF-I inversely correlated with steatosis (P<.002), NAS (P<.001), ballooning (P<.001) and inflammation (P<.02). IGF-II correlated positively with insulin sensitivity index (ISI) (P<.05) and liver fibrosis (P<.02), but inversely correlated with waist circumference (P<.001) and apolipoprotein B level (P<.02). IGFBP-3 positively correlated with BMI (P<.02), IGF-I (P<.001) and IGF-II (P<.005), but inversely correlated with waist circumference (P<.002) and ballooning (P<.03).

“Our findings suggest that IGF-I and IGF-II may represent novel markers of liver damage progression,” the researchers concluded.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.