Impact of a low fructose, low glycemic index and low glycemic load dietary intervention on liver function, body composition and cardio metabolic risk factors in children and adolescents with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

• Author / Creator

  Rivera, Ingrid

• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disease in obese children. Diets high in added fructose (high fructose corn syrup; HFCS)/glycemic index (GI)/glycemic load (GL) in children with NAFLD are associated with increased inflammation and liver dysfunction. We hypothesized that a low GI/GL/fructose diet over six months would result in improvements in body composition, insulin resistance (IR), liver function and metabolic parameters in childhood NAFLD. Children with NAFLD and healthy children were studied at baseline (n=12 NAFLD, n=14 controls), 3-and-6 months (n=7 NAFLD; n=13 controls). Significant reductions in systolic blood pressure, body-fat percentage, plasma free fatty acids, Apo-B-100, HOMA-IR and ALT were observed in children with NAFLD at three-months (p<0.05). The strongest relationships between intake with HOMA-IR and plasma ALT were observed when children with NAFLD reduced their intake of GI (p=0.009), GL (p<0.001), total fructose (p=0.001), and HFCS (p=0.004). Treatment strategies aimed at reducing in fructose/GI/GL may contribute to therapy in childhood NAFLD.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Pediatrics
  • Nutrition
  • Liver disease

• Graduation date

  Spring 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3WT6G

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.