Sex differences between parental pregnancy characteristics and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in adolescents
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a complex chronic liver disorder. Examination of parental pregnancy‐related characteristics may provide insights into the origins of risk of NAFLD in offspring. We examined relationships between parental pregnancy‐related characteristics and NAFLD in 1,170 adolescent offspring aged 17 years participating in the Western Australian Pregnancy (Raine) Cohort Study. Fatty liver was diagnosed using liver ultrasound. NAFLD was diagnosed in 15.2% of adolescents at age 17 years. In univariate analysis, maternal factors associated with NAFLD in female offspring were younger maternal age (P = 0.02), higher maternal prepregnancy BMI (P < 0.001), higher maternal weight gain by 18 weeks' gestation (P < 0.001), and maternal smoking during pregnancy (P = 0.04). Paternal age or body mass index (BMI) were not associated with NAFLD in female offspring. In contrast, higher paternal BMI (P < 0.001), maternal prepregnancy BMI (P < 0.001), and lower family socioeconomic status (SES) at time of birth (P = 0.001), but not parental age nor maternal gestational weight gain, were associated with NAFLD in male offspring. Using multivariate logistic regression, factors independently associated with NAFLD after adjusting for obesity in adolescent females included maternal obesity (odds ratio [OR], 3.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49‐8.05; P = 0.004) and maternal weight gain ≥6.0 kg by the 18th week of gestation (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.04‐1.15; P < 0.001). In adolescent males, family SES at the time of birth (OR, 9.07; 95% CI, 1.54‐53.29; P = 0.02) remained significantly associated with NAFLD after multivariate modeling adjusted for adolescent obesity. Conclusion: Early‐life contributors to NAFLD show considerable sexual dimorphism. Maternal obesity and higher early‐mid gestational weight gain were associated with NAFLD in female offspring, whereas lower family SES at birth was associated with NAFLD in male offspring independent of adolescent obesity. (Hepatology 2018;67:108‐122).
Keywords
adipocytokine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, corticosteroid, glucose, insulin, leptin, liver enzyme, oral contraceptive agent, adolescent, adolescent obesity, adolescent pregnancy, alanine aminotransferase blood level, alcohol consumption, Article, aspartate aminotransferase blood level, body mass, cesarean section, cohort analysis, corticosteroid therapy, female, gestational weight gain, homeostasis model assessment, human, hypertension, insulin resistance, major clinical study, male, maternal age, maternal obesity, maternal smoking, nonalcoholic fatty liver, obesity, preeclampsia, priority journal, progeny, prospective study, sex difference, social status, underweight, vaginal delivery, waist circumference, weight gain, Australia, complication, diagnostic imaging, Doppler ultrasonography, factual database, incidence, longitudinal study, multivariate analysis, nonalcoholic fatty liver, pathophysiology, pregnancy, prenatal exposure, risk assessment, sex difference, socioeconomics, statistical model, Adolescent, Australia, Body Mass Index, Cohort Studies, Databases, Factual, Female, Humans, Incidence, Logistic Models, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Maternal Age, Multivariate Analysis, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Obesity, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Risk Assessment, Sex Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Ultrasonography, Doppler
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
2018
Publication Title
Hepatology
Publisher
John Wiley and Sons Inc.
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
24771
Copyright
subscription content
Comments
Ayonrinde, O. T., Adams, L. A., Mori, T. A., Beilin, L. J., de Klerk, N., Pennell, C. E., . . . Olynyk, J. K. (2018). Sex differences between parental pregnancy characteristics and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in adolescents. Hepatology, 67(1), 108-122. Available here