The role of nutritional profile in the orexigenic neuropeptide secretion in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease obese adolescents.

Background: Little progress has been made to identify the central neuroendocrine pathway involved in the energy intake control in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients.

Objective: To assess the influence of orexigenic neuropeptides in the nutritional aspects of NAFLD obese adolescents submitted to a long-term interdisciplinary approach.

Methods: Fifty adolescents aged 15-19 years, with body mass index at least 95th percentile, consisting of 25 patients without NAFLD and 25 with NAFLD. The NAFLD diagnosis was determined by ultrasonography. Blood samples were collected to analyze glycemia, hepatic transaminases, and lipid profile. Insulin resistance was estimated by Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance Index. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti related protein concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Analyses of food intake were made by 3 days recordatory inquiry.

Results: At baseline conditions, the patients with NAFLD had significantly higher values of body mass, body mass index, visceral fat, triglycerides, VLDL-C, and hepatic transaminases. After the long-term intervention, they presented a significant reduction in these parameters. In both the groups, it was observed a significant decrease in energy intake, macronutrients and dietetic cholesterol. Only the patients with NAFLD presented a positive correlation between the saturated fatty acids intake and the orexigenic neuropeptides NPY and agouti related protein, and carbohydrate with NPY. Indeed, it was observed a positive correlation between energy intake, lipid (%) and saturated fatty acids with visceral fat accumulation.

Conclusion: Our findings showed an important influence of diet composition in the orexigenic system, being essential consider that the excessive saturated fatty acids intake could be a determinant factor to increase nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.