Table 1.
Characteristics of the study population
| Parameter | Subjects without NAFLD (n = 233) mean ± SD (range) | Subjects with NAFLD (n = 99) mean ± SD (range) | Total (n = 332) | p‐value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender, n (%) | ||||
| Male | 96 (41.2%) | 66 (66.7%) | 162 (48.8%) | <0.0001 |
| Female | 137 (58.8%) | 33 (33.3%) | 170 (51.2%) | |
| Age (years) | 13.9 ± 1.8 (10.1–19.5) | 14.1 ± 1.9 (10.3–18.3) | 14.0 ± 1.8 (10.1–19.5) | 0.4997 |
| BMI‐SDS | 2.5 ± 0.5 (1.2–4.6) | 2.8 ± 0.4 (1.8–3.8) | 2.6 ± 0.5 (1.2–4.6) | <0.0001 |
| WHR (m) | 0.9 ± 0.1 (0.7–2.1) | 1.0 ± 0.1 (0.8–1.2) | 0.9 ± 0.1 (0.7–2.1) | <0.0001 |
| AST (U L−1) | 12.7 ± 3.2 (5.1–28.1) | 18.3 ± 8.6 (8.2–64.0) | 14.4 ± 6.0 (5.1–64.0) | <0.0001 |
| ALT (U L−1) | 11.4 ± 4.2 (6.1–37.5) | 21.3 ± 15.4 (5.4–112.6) | 14.3 ± 10.1 (5.4–112.6) | <0.0001 |
| GGT (U L−1) | 12.3 ± 3.8 (2.2–31.9) | 18.8 ± 11.9 (6.8–86.6) | 14.2 ± 7.8 (2.2–86.6) | <0.0001 |
| LDL (mg dL−1) | 118.7 ± 32.8 (38.0–225.0) | 125.8 ± 33.0 (47.0–217.0) | 120.8 ± 33.0 (38.0–225.0) | 0.0751 |
| HDL (mg dL−1) | 46.1 ± 8.9 (26.7–79.7) | 45.0 ± 8.7 (29.1–69.5) | 45.8 ± 8.8 (26.7–79.7) | 0.3444 |
| Cholesterol (mg dL−1) | 185.1 ± 32.3 (106.0–289.0) | 195.1 ± 34.8 (115.0–277.0) | 188.1 ± 33.3 (106.0–289.0) | 0.0179 |
| Triglycerides (mg dL−1) | 98.0 ± 46.2 (20.8–338.0) | 130.1 ± 67.8 (32.1–432.0) | 107.6 ± 55.5 (20.8–432.0) | <0.0001 |
| Insulin | 15.1 ± 8.1 (3.2–59.5) | 23.0 ± 14.2 (5.4–64.2) | 17.5 ± 10.9 (3.2–64.2) | <0.0001 |
| Leptin | 31.1 ± 18.9 (1.5–117.4) | 33.7 ± 17.5 (6.3–92.8) | 31.9 ± 18.5 (1.5–117.4) | 0.0887 |
| HOMA | 3.2 ± 1.9 (0.5–13.2) | 5.1 ± 3.6 (1.1–21.2) | 3.8 ± 2.7 (0.5–21.2) | <0.0001 |
| Blood pressure | ||||
| Systolic | 125.5 ± 12.0 (100.0–160.0) | 129.3 ± 10.9 (105.0–160.0) | 126.6 ± 11.8 (100.0–160.0) | 0.0012 |
| Diastolic | 76.4 ± 8.9 (60.0–115.0) | 78.7 ± 10.6 (60.0–120.0) | 77.1 ± 9.5 (60.0–120.0) | 0.0577 |
| T3 (nmol L−1) | 1.6 ± 0.3 (0.9–2.8) | 1.7 ± 0.4 (0.9–2.7) | 1.6 ± 0.3 (0.9–2.8) | 0.2380 |
| T4 (µg dL−1) | 8.0 ± 1.4 (4.1–13.3) | 8.0 ± 1.4 (3.7–11.2) | 8.0 ± 1.4 (3.7–13.3) | 0.8709 |
| TSH (μU mL−1) | 2.5 ± 1.4 (0.5–11.5) | 2.8 ± 1.1 (0.7–6.7) | 2.6 ± 1.3 (0.5–11.5) | 0.0007 |
ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; BMI, body mass index; GGT, gamma‐glutamyltransferase; HDL, high density lipoprotein; HOMA, homeostasis model assessment; LDL, low density lipoprotein; NAFLD, non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease; SD, standard deviation; SDS, standard deviation scores; T3, triiodothyronine; T4, thyroxine; TSH, thyroid‐stimulating hormone; WHR, waist‐to‐hip ratio.