Tryptophan derivatives as non‐invasive diagnostic indicators for obesity‐related MASLD in children and adolescents
Authors' conclusion
These findings highlight the pivotal role of TRP metabolism in the pathogenesis of MASLD in children and adolescents with obesity. Elevated TRP-derived metabolites may contribute to hepatic lipid accumulation through oxidative stress and serve as promising non-invasive biomarkers for the early diagnosis of obesity-related MASLD. The machine learning-based diagnostic model offers a practical and less invasive alternative to current diagnostic approaches such as liver biopsy.
Study context
- Population
- Children and adolescents with obesity, with or without obesity-related MASLD, and normal-weight controlsvalidation cohort 112
- Participants
- 30 vs 80
- Comparison
- Obesity-related MASLD vs simple obesity vs normal weight
- Normal-weightn = 30reference
- Obesityn = 80
- Outcome
- Circulating TRP metabolism
Methodological detailsdiscovery and independent validation cohorts, machine learning, in vitro experiments (mouse hepatocytes, liver organoids)
- Discovery and independent validation cohorts
- Machine learning
- In vitro experiments (mouse hepatocytes, liver organoids)
Performance
As reported in the abstract
- Circulating tryptophan (TRP) metabolism markedly elevated in obesity-related MASLD vs normal-weight controls and simple obesity
- TRP-derived metabolite-based diagnostic model showed robust performance differentiating obesity-related MASLD from simple obesity in discovery and validation cohorts
Further findings
Intracellular lipid accumulation in vitro
- TRP-derived metabolites significantly promoted lipid accumulation in mouse hepatocytes and liver organoids via induction of oxidative stress
Original publication
Tryptophan derivatives as non‐invasive diagnostic indicators for obesity‐related MASLD in children and adolescents. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 1 October 2025. doi:10.
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