STUDY OF DIETARY CHANGES IN THE TREATMENT OF PEDIATRIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is an obesity related chronic liver disease found in up to 25% of obese children. Currently there is not an effective treatment for NAFLD in either children or adults. Fructose is a carbohydrate that is found in large amounts in the American diet in the form of high fructose corn syrup and fruit juice based beverages. Fructose metabolism has been shown to induce visceral obesity and insulin resistance as well as NAFLD in animal models. Thirty obese children with NAFLD as identified by elevated ALT will be randomized to two treatment groups. Group I will be counseled with a diet avoiding high fructose corn syrup and fruit juice. Group II will be counseled with a traditional low fat diet. All children will be encouraged to increase exercise and decrease sedentary behavior. Primary outcome variable will be decrease in ALT. Other secondary outcome measures will include BMI, methinonine breath test levels, methionine metabolite levels, fasting insulin and glucose, adiponectin, osteopontin, Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels.