Relative Skeletal Muscle Mass Is an Important Factor in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Non-Obese Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Recently, sarcopenia was identified as a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adults. We here investigated the association between skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and NAFLD in non-obese children and adolescents. A retrospective medical chart review was performed for individuals aged 9-15 years diagnosed with NAFLD. Healthy volunteers aged 9-15 years were recruited as controls. Participants were subject to laboratory tests, abdominal sonography, and multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. SMM data were calculated as the skeletal muscle-to-body fat ratio (MFR), and the diagnosis of fatty liver was established by abdominal sonography. The control and NAFLD groups included 73 and 53 individuals, respectively. No significant difference was observed in gender and body mass index (BMI) distribution between the groups. Mean MFR was significantly lower in individuals with NAFLD than in those without (0.83 vs. 1.04, p = 0.005). After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and serum glucose, the risk of having NAFLD was significantly associated with a decreased MFR (p = 0.016). NAFLD is significantly associated with relatively low SMM in non-obese children and adolescents. Increasing SMM, such as weight training, can be suggested as one of the treatment strategies in pediatric NAFLD without obesity.

Keywords: children; muscle-to-body fat ratio; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; sarcopenia; skeletal muscle mass.

Figure 1

Box and whisker plot of median MFR (skeletal muscle-to-body fat ratio) in the control and NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) group in boys (a) and girls (b).