Value of elevated 1-hour post-load plasma glucose level in identifying risk of NAFLD in non-diabetic obese pediatric patients

Objective To evaluate the potential value of 1-h post-load plasma glucose level in patients who are prone to suffer from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a group of non-diabetic obese children and adolescents. Methods Cardio-metabolic risk factors, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) outcomes, and liver ultrasonic examination results were analyzed in 406 non-diabetic patients with obesity. Patients were divided into 4 groups: normal glucose tolerance with 1-h plasma glucose (NGT with 1-h PG) < 8.6 mmol/L, NGT with 1-h PG ≥ 8.6 mmol/L, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Results In this study, 406 non-diabetic patients with obesity (249 males, 157 females, mean age: 11.71 ± 2.22 years) were included. Among the 406 patients, 286 (70.4%) had NGT, 30 (7.4%) had IFG, and 90 (22.2%) had IGT. As compared with NGT with 1-h PG < 8.6 mmol/L, NGT with 1-h PG ≥ 8.6 mmol/L and IGT groups demonstrated significantly higher fat mass, positive rate of family history, triglycerides, gamma-glutamyl transferase, uric acid, as well as lower high-density lipoprotein and vitamin D. In the logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, BMI, and fat mass, NGT with 1-h PG ≥ 8.6 mmol/L individuals had a 1.9-fold increased risk of NAFLD, IGT group (2.2-fold) showed an even increased risk. Still, the risk was not significantly raised in the IFG group (1.3-fold). Conclusion These data suggest that NGT with 1-h PG ≥ 8.6 mmol/L in non-diabetic obese pediatric patients can facilitate identifying individuals at higher risk of NAFLD.