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. 2019 Jan 22;321(3):256–265. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.20579

Table 1. Baseline Characteristics of Adolescent Boys With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Randomized to Intervention (Low Free Sugar) Diet or Usual Diet.

Intervention Diet
(n = 20)
Usual Diet
(n = 20)
Age at screening, mean (SD), y 12.8 (1.8) 13.4 (1.9)
Income of household, No. (%)
<$15 000 4 (20) 4 (20)
$15 000-$29 999 3 (15) 9 (45)
$30 000-$49 999 7 (35) 4 (20)
≥$50 000 2 (10) 2 (10)
Declined to answer 4 (20) 1 (5)
Race/ethnicity, No. (%)
Hispanic 18 (90) 20 (100)
Non-Hispanic white 2 (10) 0
Dietary intake, median (IQR)
Total energy intake, kcal 1420 (1220-1778) 1721 (1440-1953)
Carbohydrates, % of total energy 49.4 (46.4-54.3) 50.5 (43.4-55.2)
Sugars 21.6 (14.0-24.2) 19.5 (14.9-28.9)
Added sugars 9.8 (4.9-14.0) 11.2 (7.7-19.2)
Free sugars 10.0 (5.2-13.9) 11.2 (7.0-20.3)
Protein, % of total energy 43.6 (39.5-49.6) 37.3 (32.8-44.7)
Fat, % of total energy 13.6 (12.7-15.3) 15.1 (12.7-16.3)
Anthropometric assessments, mean (SD)
Height, cm 160.7 (9.9) 164.1 (12.8)
Weight, kg 88.1 (21.5) 88.7 (26.3)
Body mass indexa 33.7 (5.6) 32.3 (6.3)
z score 2.38 (0.28) 2.22 (0.48)
Waist circumference, cm 108.9 (12.3) 107.7 (16.0)
Blood pressure, mean (SD), mm Hg
Systolic 116.2 (9.3) 117.6 (12.5)
Diastolic 66.1 (6.7) 65.3 (10.9)
Lipid levels, mean (SD), mg/dL
Total cholesterol 162.1 (42.5) 157.3 (31.3)
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 100.5 (34.9) 95.2 (24.1)
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol 40.1 (7.1) 40.5 (7.2)
Triglycerides 144.2 (83.0) 148.0 (48.7)
Insulin and glucose levels
Fasting glucose, mean (SD), mg/dL 91.1 (9.8) 90.5 (13.9)
Insulin, median (IQR), μIU/mLb 34.0 (26.1-57.8) 43.8 (32.1-59.2)
Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, median (IQR)b 7.9 (5.2-13.6) 9.2 (6.8-12.6)
Liver enzyme levels, median (IQR)
Alanine aminotransferase, U/L 82.0 (57.0-144.0) 72.5 (57.0-113.5)
Aspartate aminotransferase, U/L 44.0 (32.0-79.0) 39.0 (34.5-63.5)
γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase, mg/dL 52.5 (24.0-62.5) 41.5 (28.0-61.5)
Hepatic steatosis
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score, median (IQR)c 4 (3-5) 4 (4-5)
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis diagnosis, No. (%)
Nonalcoholic fatty liverd 7 (35) 6 (30)
Borderline nonalcoholic steatohepatitise 9 (45) 7 (35)
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitisf 4 (20) 7 (35)
Proton density fat fraction, mean (SD), %g 25 (11) 21 (8)

Abbreviation: IQR, interquartile range.

SI conversion factors: To convert alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase to μkat/L, multiply by 0.0167; glucose to mmol/L, multiply by 0.0555; high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol to mmol/L, multiply by 0.0259; insulin to pmol/L, multiply by 6.945; triglycerides to mmol/L, multiply by 0.0113.

a

Calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.

b

One participant from the intervention group was missing the baseline insulin laboratory measurement.

c

Based on NASH Clinical Research Network scoring system.20 Score range, 0-8; steatosis, 0-3; hepatocyte ballooning, 0-2; and lobular inflammation, 0-3.

d

Defined as steatosis with minimal or no inflammation.

e

Defined as steatosis and zone 1 or 3 liver injury pattern not sufficient to meet diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

f

Defined as steatosis, inflammation, and hepatocyte ballooning injury.

g

Measured using magnetic resonance imaging.