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Indicators of fetal growth and adult liver enzymes: the Bogalusa Heart Study and the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 December 2016

E. W. Harville ,
W. Chen ,
L. Bazzano ,
M. Oikonen ,
N. Hutri-Kähönen  and
O. Raitakari
E. W. Harville*
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
W. Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
L. Bazzano
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
M. Oikonen
Affiliation:
Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Finland
N. Hutri-Kähönen
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
O. Raitakari
Affiliation:
Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Finland
*
*Address for correspondence: E. Harville, Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tidewater 2012, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. (Email eharvill@tulane.edu)
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Abstract

Despite the interest in the relationship of fetal exposures to adult cardiovascular disease, few studies have examined indicators of adult fatty liver disease as an outcome. Previous results are inconsistent, and indicate possible variation by sex. Adult liver enzymes [γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartase transaminase (AST)] were measured in two cohort studies: the Bogalusa Heart Study (BHS; n=1803) and the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns (YF; n=3571) study, which also had ultrasound measures of liver fat (n=2546). Predictors of dichotomized (clinical cut-offs) and continuous (within the reference range) liver enzymes included low birthweight (<2500 g), macrosomia (>4000 g), small-for-gestational-age (birthweight <10th percentile for gestational age for population), large-for-gestational-age (>90th percentile), and preterm birth. Multiple logistic and linear regression were conducted, adjusted for medical, behavioral and socioeconomic indicators. Interactions with sex were also examined. In BHS, birth measures were not strongly associated with clinically high levels of liver enzymes, and within the reference range measures of reduced growth were associated with increased AST in women. In the YF study, at least one marker of reduced growth was associated with higher GGT, higher ALT and higher AST (in women). Probable fatty liver on ultrasound was associated with low birthweight (2.41, 1.42–4.09) and preterm birth (2.84, 1.70–4.76). These results suggest a link between birth parameters and adult fatty liver, but encourage consideration of population variation in these relationships.

Keywords

birthweight-glutamyltransferasegestational agenon-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , April 2017 , pp. 226 - 235
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Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2016 

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