Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease decrease in obese adolescents after multidisciplinary therapy

Abstract

Background: Despite the increasing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, its pathogenesis and clinical significance remain poorly defined and there is no ideal treatment.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the short-term (12-week) multidisciplinary therapy on visceral adiposity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease control.

Methods: We evaluated and compared the distribution of visceral adiposity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, by ultrasonography, in 73 post-puberty obese participants (17.01+/-1.6 years old; body mass index 36.54+/-2.86 kg/m), submitted to a multidisciplinary treatment without medications, at the beginning and after 12 weeks of intervention. Descriptive and one-way analysis of variance, and paired t-test were performed.

Results: The results indicated that after intervention the adolescents had a significant reduction in visceral adiposity (4.05+/-1.55 to 3.37+/-1.44) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease prevalence (from 52 to 29% on the right side and from 48 to 29% on the left side). It is a positive result because nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can progress to cirrhosis, even in children and adolescents.

Conclusions: The short-term treatment suggests a profound impact on the control of obesity-related co-morbidities in young people.