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Impact of segmental body composition on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in Chinese children

Hu, Meng-Yuan ; Sun, Dan-Qin ; Yang, Fan ; Zheng, Xiao-Wei ; Wu, Ning-Xi ; Zhang, Haoyang LU orcid ; Yao, Xiao-Die ; Zhang, Jia-Hui and Zhang, Le (2025) In Frontiers in Endocrinology 16(1505050). p.01-11
Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to assess the relationship between regional body composition and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in Chinese children.

Methods: In this study, 1399 children aged 7–14 years were included. Liver steatosis was assessed using the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) measured through Fibroscan. MAFLD is defined as the presence of liver steatosis along with either overweight/obesity, prediabetes/diabetes, or at least two metabolic index abnormalities. Regression analyses were applied to assess the relationship between regional body composition and MAFLD in children. Subgroup analyses were performed based on sex and weight.

Results: The participants had a mean age of 9... (More)
Purpose: This study aimed to assess the relationship between regional body composition and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in Chinese children.

Methods: In this study, 1399 children aged 7–14 years were included. Liver steatosis was assessed using the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) measured through Fibroscan. MAFLD is defined as the presence of liver steatosis along with either overweight/obesity, prediabetes/diabetes, or at least two metabolic index abnormalities. Regression analyses were applied to assess the relationship between regional body composition and MAFLD in children. Subgroup analyses were performed based on sex and weight.

Results: The participants had a mean age of 9 years, with 52.11% being boys. Among them, 134 (9.57%) were diagnosed with MAFLD, and 17 (1.22%) had severe fatty liver disease. We found an inverse correlation between the muscle percentage in each region and MAFLD, with the extremities demonstrating the most significant negative correlation (OR: 0.732; 95% CI: 0.634–0.844). Conversely, regional fat was positively associated with MAFLD, with the strongest correlation found in the upper limbs (OR: 3.104; 95% CI: 2.023–4.764). Subgroup analyses showed similar results.

Conclusion: The decrease in regional muscle percentage, particularly in the limbs, along with the increase in regional fat percentage, especially in the upper limbs, is associated with a higher probability of developing MAFLD in prepubertal children. Additional prospective studies are needed to strengthen and validate these findings. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
in
Frontiers in Endocrinology
volume
16
issue
1505050
pages
01 - 11
publisher
Frontiers Media S. A.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85219475716
  • pmid:40034234
ISSN
1664-2392
DOI
10.3389/fendo.2025.1505050
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
0af6dcb3-3c9d-4cf4-9789-5a1e9da71e72
date added to LUP
2025-03-02 13:38:34
date last changed
2025-06-02 03:00:08
@article{0af6dcb3-3c9d-4cf4-9789-5a1e9da71e72,
  abstract     = {{Purpose: This study aimed to assess the relationship between regional body composition and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in Chinese children.<br/><br/>Methods: In this study, 1399 children aged 7–14 years were included. Liver steatosis was assessed using the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) measured through Fibroscan. MAFLD is defined as the presence of liver steatosis along with either overweight/obesity, prediabetes/diabetes, or at least two metabolic index abnormalities. Regression analyses were applied to assess the relationship between regional body composition and MAFLD in children. Subgroup analyses were performed based on sex and weight.<br/><br/>Results: The participants had a mean age of 9 years, with 52.11% being boys. Among them, 134 (9.57%) were diagnosed with MAFLD, and 17 (1.22%) had severe fatty liver disease. We found an inverse correlation between the muscle percentage in each region and MAFLD, with the extremities demonstrating the most significant negative correlation (OR: 0.732; 95% CI: 0.634–0.844). Conversely, regional fat was positively associated with MAFLD, with the strongest correlation found in the upper limbs (OR: 3.104; 95% CI: 2.023–4.764). Subgroup analyses showed similar results.<br/><br/>Conclusion: The decrease in regional muscle percentage, particularly in the limbs, along with the increase in regional fat percentage, especially in the upper limbs, is associated with a higher probability of developing MAFLD in prepubertal children. Additional prospective studies are needed to strengthen and validate these findings.}},
  author       = {{Hu, Meng-Yuan and Sun, Dan-Qin and Yang, Fan and Zheng, Xiao-Wei and Wu, Ning-Xi and Zhang, Haoyang and Yao, Xiao-Die and Zhang, Jia-Hui and Zhang, Le}},
  issn         = {{1664-2392}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1505050}},
  pages        = {{01--11}},
  publisher    = {{Frontiers Media S. A.}},
  series       = {{Frontiers in Endocrinology}},
  title        = {{Impact of segmental body composition on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in Chinese children}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2025.1505050}},
  doi          = {{10.3389/fendo.2025.1505050}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}