THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN METABOLIC SYNDROME AND ELEVATED ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE LEVEL IN SCHOOL-AGED OBESE CHILDREN

*Fatima Bress, MD, Ahmad Chreitah, PhD and Mazen Ghalia, PhD

ABSTRACT

Background: Liver enzymes, particularly alanine aminotransferase, are considered surrogate markers for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is emerging as a component of metabolic syndrome. Objective: Determine the association between metabolic syndrome and elevated alanine aminotransferase in school-aged obese children. Materials and Methods: An observational analytic cross-sectional study was conducted in 130 obese patients aged 5-17 years (54 males 41.5% and 76 females 58.5%) who were followed up at the pediatric endocrine clinic at Tishreen University Hospital in Latakia between April 2023 and March 2024 and who met the eligibility criteria and had complete data. Results: Out of 130 obese children, 60 children (46.2%) were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, and 41 children (31.5%) had elevated alanine aminotransferase levels. The percentage of elevated alanine aminotransferase levels among individuals with the syndrome was 65.9%. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was observed between elevated alanine aminotransferase levels and blood sugar, triglyceride levels, and waist circumference. Conclusion: The study revealed a significant association between metabolic syndrome and elevated alanine aminotransferase levels. Moreover, unexplained increases in alanine aminotransferase levels in obese children may be indicative of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, elevated alanine aminotransferase, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obese children.