Alanine aminotransferase elevation varies by ethnicity among Asian and Pacific Islander children with overweight or obesity
Authors' conclusion
High elevated ALT prevalence among Asian/PI children with overweight and obesity emphasizes the need for MASLD risk assessment and examination of ethnic subgroups.
Study context
- Population
- US children aged 9–17 years, Asian/PI and non-Hispanic White (NHW), with BMI ≥85th percentile analysed for association with elevated ALT
- Participants
- 18,402 vs 25,376
- Exposure
- Asian/PI vs NHW children
- Asian/PIn = 18,402
- NHWn = 25,376reference
- Outcome
- Elevated ALT prevalence (clinical threshold) and association with BMI ≥85th percentile
Methodological detailslogistic regression
- Logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Elevated ALT prevalence
- Males with overweight: Asian/PI vs NHW
- 4.0% vs 2.7%
- Males with moderate obesity: Asian/PI vs NHW
- 7.8% vs 5.3%
- Males with severe obesity: Asian/PI vs NHW
- 16.6% vs 11.5%
- Females with moderate obesity: Asian/PI vs NHW
- 5.1% vs 3.0%
- Females with severe obesity: Asian/PI vs NHW
- 10.2% vs 5.2%
- Adjusted odds of elevated ALT, Asian/PI vs NHW males
- 1.6-fold higher
- Adjusted odds of elevated ALT, Asian/PI vs NHW females with obesity
- ≈2-fold higher
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Elevated ALT by ethnic subgroup, males (vs NHW)
- Filipino, Chinese and Southeast Asian males: higher odds
- 1.7-2.1-fold
- Native Hawaiian/PI (NHPI) and South Asian males did not significantly differ
Elevated ALT by ethnic subgroup, females with obesity (vs NHW)
- Filipina and Chinese females with obesity: higher odds
- >2-fold
- Southeast and South Asian females did not differ; NHPI findings mixed
Original publication
Alanine aminotransferase elevation varies by ethnicity among Asian and Pacific Islander children with overweight or obesity. Pediatr Obes. Published 5 March 2024. doi:10.
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