Lifestyle Intervention and Vitamin E Therapy in Obese Children with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a very common chronic disorder and obesity is thought to be the most common etiology of fatty infiltration of the liver. Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare the effect of lifestyle intervention alone or in combination with vitamin E therapy in obese pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Patients and Methods: In the double-blind placebo study, 33 obese children with NAFLD from 2008 to 2009 were included. Lifestyle intervention (balanced calorie diet, 1300-1800 kcal/d and physical activity) was prescribed to all. The patients were concurrently randomized to receive vitamin E 400 mg/d (n = 17)] or placebo (n = 16). Results: At the end of six months of therapy there was significant change in body mass index, serum aminotransferases, triglycerides, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in both groups (P Conclusions: lifestyle intervention with diet and physical exercise in obese children with NAFLD were induced weight loss and was associated with a significant improvement in liver function. Vitamin E did not seem to increase the efficacy of lifestyle intervention.