Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the gut microbiota in adolescents: is there a relationship?

Abstract Background Despite the increasing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the pathophysiology is still not fully understood. Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota may play a role in the pathophysiology of NAFLD and may also offer new therapeutic options. Methods T...

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Main Authors: Doaa El Amrousy, Heba El Ashry, Sara Maher, Yousef Elsayed, Samir Hasan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:BMC Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-05268-y
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author Doaa El Amrousy
Heba El Ashry
Sara Maher
Yousef Elsayed
Samir Hasan
author_facet Doaa El Amrousy
Heba El Ashry
Sara Maher
Yousef Elsayed
Samir Hasan
author_sort Doaa El Amrousy
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Despite the increasing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the pathophysiology is still not fully understood. Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota may play a role in the pathophysiology of NAFLD and may also offer new therapeutic options. Methods This prospective cross-sectional study included 100 consecutive newly diagnosed obese patients (BMI ≥ 95th percentile), aged 14–18 years with NAFLD (confirmed by ultrasound), persistently elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) greater than 60 U/L for 1–6 months, and 100 healthy controls. We evaluated changes in the gut microbiota in NAFLD adolescents compared with healthy controls. Results According to the multiple logistic regressions, the variables associated with NAFLD were the presence of Clostridium difficile, the presence of Salmonella spp., a greater abundance of Bifidobacterium and Prevotella, and a lower abundance of Lactobacillus. Conclusion Changes in the gut microbiota occur in adolescents with NAFLD compared with healthy individuals, which may be useful for identifying youths who are amenable to gut microbiota-based interventions. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-02871c9d986c4ed98f81caedf00a76062025-08-20T02:38:35ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312024-11-0124111010.1186/s12887-024-05268-yNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the gut microbiota in adolescents: is there a relationship?Doaa El Amrousy0Heba El Ashry1Sara Maher2Yousef Elsayed3Samir Hasan4Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta UniversityTropical Medicine Departments, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta UniversityTheodor Bilharz Research InstituteKasr El Ainy Medical School, Cairo UniversityPediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta UniversityAbstract Background Despite the increasing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the pathophysiology is still not fully understood. Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota may play a role in the pathophysiology of NAFLD and may also offer new therapeutic options. Methods This prospective cross-sectional study included 100 consecutive newly diagnosed obese patients (BMI ≥ 95th percentile), aged 14–18 years with NAFLD (confirmed by ultrasound), persistently elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) greater than 60 U/L for 1–6 months, and 100 healthy controls. We evaluated changes in the gut microbiota in NAFLD adolescents compared with healthy controls. Results According to the multiple logistic regressions, the variables associated with NAFLD were the presence of Clostridium difficile, the presence of Salmonella spp., a greater abundance of Bifidobacterium and Prevotella, and a lower abundance of Lactobacillus. Conclusion Changes in the gut microbiota occur in adolescents with NAFLD compared with healthy individuals, which may be useful for identifying youths who are amenable to gut microbiota-based interventions. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-05268-yAdolescentsMetabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver diseaseGut microbiota
spellingShingle Doaa El Amrousy
Heba El Ashry
Sara Maher
Yousef Elsayed
Samir Hasan
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the gut microbiota in adolescents: is there a relationship?
BMC Pediatrics
Adolescents
Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease
Gut microbiota
title Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the gut microbiota in adolescents: is there a relationship?
title_full Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the gut microbiota in adolescents: is there a relationship?
title_fullStr Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the gut microbiota in adolescents: is there a relationship?
title_full_unstemmed Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the gut microbiota in adolescents: is there a relationship?
title_short Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the gut microbiota in adolescents: is there a relationship?
title_sort non alcoholic fatty liver disease and the gut microbiota in adolescents is there a relationship
topic Adolescents
Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease
Gut microbiota
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-05268-y
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