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. 2021 Jul 21;106(11):3140–3150. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgab541

Table 3.

Estimates for associations of log-hepatic fat with metabolic and body composition variables in early childhood (4-8 years): the Healthy Start Study

Model 1a Model 2b Model 3c Model 4d
Dependent variable n β (95% CI)e P n β (95% CI)e P n β (95% CI)e P n β (95% CI)e P
Metabolic
 Glucose, mg/dL 209 3.82 (1.88, 5.75) <0.001 208 3.09 (1.23, 4.95) 0.001 188 3.38 (1.36, 5.40) 0.001 186 3.44 (1.41, 5.47) 0.001
 Insulin, uIU/mL 212 1.55 (0.73, 2.38) <0.001 211 1.38 (0.55, 2.22) 0.001 189 1.47 (0.60, 2.34) 0.001 187 1.47 (0.61, 2.33) 0.001
 HOMA-IR 195 0.42 (0.22, 0.61) <0.001 194 0.37 (0.17, 0.56) <0.001 175 0.40 (0.20, 0.60) <0.001 173 0.40 (0.20, 0.60) <0.001
 Triglycerides, mg/dL 213 6.19 (0.63, 11.75) 0.029 212 5.36 (−0.28, 11.00) 0.06 192 5.95 (0.12, 11.78) 0.046 190 6.10 (0.22, 11.98) 0.042
 Total C, mg/dL 213 3.97 (−2.60, 10.54) 0.23 212 4.98 (−1.68, 11.64) 0.14 192 5.39 (−1.71, 12.49) 0.14 190 5.26 (−1.91, 12.43) 0.15
 LDL-C, mg/dL 213 4.14 (−2.38, 9.65) 0.14 212 5.01 (−0.56, 10.58) 0.08 192 5.06 (−0.86, 10.99) 0.09 190 5.01 (−0.97, 10.99) 0.10
 HDL-C, mg/dL 213 −1.41 (−3.96, 1.15) 0.28 212 −1.10 (−3.62, 1.43) 0.39 192 −0.86 (−3.57, 1.84) 0.53 190 −0.96 (−3.68, 1.75) 0.48
 Adiponectin, ug/mL 230 −0.72 (−2.41, 0.97) 0.40 229 −0.63 (−2.34, 1.09) 0.47 204 −0.89 (−2.65, 0.88) 0.32 202 −0.88 (−2.64, 0.89) 0.33
 Leptin, ng/mL 230 1.29 (−0.01, 2.56) 0.05 229 0.86 (−0.40, 2.13) 0.18 204 0.71 (−0.42, 1.83) 0.22 202 0.57 (−0.50, 1.64) 0.30
 Diastolic  BP, mm Hg 284 −0.23 (−1.46, 1.00) 0.71 283 −0.30 (−1.54, 0.94) 0.63 252 −0.40 (−1.74, 0.93) 0.55 249 −0.36 (−1.72, 0.99) 0.60
 Systolic BP, mm Hg 284 0.80 (−1.22, 2.82) 0.44 283 0.76 (−1.29, 2.81) 0.47 252 0.35 (−1.85, 2.55) 0.75 249 0.31 (−1.94, 2.55) 0.79
Body composition
 Abdominal VAT, mm2 275 0.41 (−0.56, 1.38) 0.40 273 0.17 (−0.77, 1.10) 0.73 242 0.19 (−0.75, 1.13) 0.69
 Abdominal SAT, mm2 275 7.37 (1.12, 13.60) 0.021 273 4.41 (−1.49, 10.31) 0.14 242 2.37 (−2.62, 7.37) 0.35
 VAT/SAT ratio 275 −0.03 (−0.06, −0.01) 0.029 273 −0.02 (−0.05, 0.01) 0.12 242 −0.01 (−0.04, 0.02) 0.48
 Fat mass, kg 283 0.28 (−0.11, 0.67) 0.16 281 0.21 (−0.18, 0.60) 0.28 250 0.18 (−0.20, 0.56) 0.35
 Fat-free mass, kg 283 −0.03 (−0.68, 0.63) 0.94 281 −0.12 (−0.60, 0.36) 0.63 250 −0.15 (−0.63, 0.33) 0.54
 Body fat, % 283 1.22 (−0.40, 2.84) 0.14 281 1.12 (−0.50, 2.73) 0.18 250 0.98 (−0.72, 2.69) 0.26

Bolding indicates P < 0.05.

Abbreviations BP, blood pressure; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; HOMA-IR, homeostatic model of assessment-insulin resistance; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; SAT, subcutaneous adipose tissue; Total C, total cholesterol; VAT, visceral adipose tissue.

a Model 1: unadjusted.

b Model 2: adjusted for child sex, Hispanic ethnicity, and age (years) at the Healthy Start Phase 2 visit.

c Model 3: adjusted for Model 2 covariates plus household income, small for gestational age, breastfeeding, maternal age (years), parity, prepregnancy body mass index (kg/m2), gestational weight gain (kg/wk), maternal diabetes mellitus during pregnancy, maternal smoking, physical activity (average metabolic equivalent hours/week), and diet quality (Healthy Eating Index-2010 score) during pregnancy.

d Model 4: adjusted for Model 3 covariates plus percentage body fat at the Healthy Start Phase 2 visit. Results were similar when adjusted for VAT (mm2) at the Healthy Start Phase 2 visit.

e B-coefficients are calculated for the effect of a 1 unit increase in log-hepatic fat at 4 to 8 years on the dependent variable.