Study of UK Children Finds Low Vitamin D Linked to Fatty Liver Disease

A UK study investigating a relationship between low vitamin D and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in British children has identified a genetic variant associated with the disease's severity. The research is being done by King's College Hospital Pediatric Liver Centre and the University of Surrey's School of Biosciences and Medicine has analyzed the medical records of 120 pediatric patients with NAFLD. The number of NAFLD cases are increasing because kids are choosing to play indoors rather than outside. Jean-Francois Dufour, a professor at the University Clinic for Visceral Surgery and Medicine, says, "Identifying a gene that impacts or alters the disease is a step in the right direction and could potentially lead to the development of new treatments or diagnostic techniques to address this growing issue." NAFLD is rapidly becoming the most common liver disease worldwide. It is estimated to effect 10% of Europe's pediatric population and around 20%-30% in the entire European population. Vitamin D was low all year round in the patients, not just in the winter. The study also found a variant of the NADSYN1 gene which is associated with NAFLD severity in patients.
I found this study to be very interesting. Before reading this article, I never heard of NAFLD. The fact that it is increasing in the pediatric population is terrible. It is definitely because children nowadays rather play video games instead of sports or anything else outside. It is incredible how much technology has helped and hurt humans.

Identification of genes associated with unhealthy liver function

NAFLD Diagram of what the liver will look like 

Picture of what a Fatty Liver and NASH looks like

In a study led by Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), 2,300 extremely obese diabetes patients have been identified with genes that are shown to associate with an unhealthy liver function. These patients that were part of the study were enrolled in a bariatric surgery program which is the removal of parts of the stomach and small intestines to induce weight loss. In the experiment, results were shown on the markers that were placed on the neurocan gene on chromosome 19p12 and rs2501843 on chromosome 1. Also, TGen expresses that the genome-wide analysis identifies loci associated with total bilirubin levels, steatosis, and mild fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. ” It has been believed that these are genetic factors that could help with identifying patients who are at risk and is the nation’s first large scale genome-wide association study for overweight patients with diabetes. Dr. Glenn S. Gerhard, a faculty member of the Geisinger Obesity Institute and a co-investigator of the study, added “The evidence for the new genetic loci may even play a role in biological mechanisms for NAFLD and NASH.”  Dr. Johanna DiStefano, the study's principal investigator and lead author, agrees with stating “These genetic factors could help us identify patients who are most at risk of developing non-alcoholic forms of fatty-liver disease (NAFLD), and which patients may be more likely to progress to severe forms of NAFLD, such as steatohepatitis (NASH). Overall, both doctors are in agreement that by identifying these genetic loci in diabetes patients, it has helped doctors evaluate patients who are at risk and require a transplant. This buildup of extra fat in liver cells, NAFLD, is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease and could result in severe insulin resistance or metabolic syndromes. Before reaching these stages, identifying these genes before hand can help doctors diagnose patients with an unhealthy liver function in early stages rather than before NAFLD is classified or even worse NASH.     

(Article) http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/266929.php

http://www.liverfoundation.org/abouttheliver/info/nafld/