Children whose fathers become obese before the age of 45 years become more vulnerable to liver injury due to high ALT levels in the blood.
High alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels can be associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, an obesity-related condition. This liver disease can further lead to cirrhosis and even liver cancer.
To find out whether parental obesity is related to high ALT levels, as well as levels of another enzyme related to liver damage, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), American researchers looked at the measurements of ALT and AST enzymes in 1,732 men and women. Out of these, 193 participants had a history of early-onset parental obesity; 460 had a history of later-onset parental obesity and the remaining did not have any history of parental obesity.
It was found that having a father with an early-onset obesity increased a person's likelihood of having elevated ALT levels, regardless of their own weight. However, no link between maternal obesity and ALT levels was discovered. Further, there was no relationship at all between parental obesity and AST levels.
Thus, the findings of the research indicate that history of early-onset paternal obesity, but not general parental obesity, may increase the odds of elevated serum ALT levels in offspring and thus, make them prone to progressive liver disease such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Gastroenterology,
April 2008
April 2008