Adipokines and C-reactive protein in relation to bone mineralization in pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Table 1 Characteristics of obese children by liver status

Variables	NAFLD (n = 44)	Non-NAFLD (n = 44)	P value
Lean mass, kg	25.8 (24.0-30.0)	26.5 (24.0-29.0)	NS
Fat mass, kg	18.7 (17.0-21.0)	16.8 (15.1-19.0)	NS
Percentage body fat	40.2% (39.0%-41.0%)	38.0% (36.0%-40.0%)	NS
Aspartate aminotransferase, U/L	34 (30-38)	24 (22-26)	< 0.0010
Alanine aminotransferase, U/L	45 (35-55)	20 (18-22)	< 0.0001
Glucose, mmol/L	4.89 (4.69-5.10)	4.88 (4.77-5.02)	NS
Insulin, μU/mL	31.2 (21.9-40.6)	20.1 (16.2-24.1)	< 0.0100
HOMA-IR values	4.27 (3.40-5.10)	3.45 (2.97-4.01)	< 0.0100
Leptin, μg/L	19.5 (15.8-23.1)	20.8 (18.2-23.4)	NS
Adiponectin, μg/L	9.0 (7.3–11.0)	12.9 (10.6–15.4)	< 0.0500
HSCRP, μg/L	3310 (2785-3836)	2165 (1710-2620)	< 0.0100
Hepatic fat fraction (%)	17.0 (11.8-22.3)	1.6 (1.0-3.1)	< 0.0001

Results are expressed as n (%), mean (95%CI), or geometric mean (95%CI) for log-transformed variables. NS: Not significant; HOMA-IR: Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance; HSCRP: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein; NAFLD: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Table 2 Multivariate analysis of the variables associated with lumbar spine and whole body bone mineral density Z-score in obese children

Variables	Standardized coefficient1	P value
LS BMD Z-score
NAFLD	-0.230	< 0.01
HSCRP, μg/L	-0.195	< 0.05
WB BMD Z-score
NAFLD	-0.218	< 0.05
Fat mass, kg	-0.225	< 0.05

¹Included in the model were age, gender, pubertal stage, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and all variables significantly associated with lumbar spine or whole body bone mineral density (BMD) Z-score in univariate analysis [i.e., high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HSCRP) and leptin levels or fat mass].