MAFLD and Celiac Disease in Children.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the factors implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis in pediatric patients with celiac disease, particularly focusing on the role of a gluten-free diet (GFD) in metabolic alterations.
Results Summary
The study suggests that a gluten-free diet may contribute to an altered metabolic profile due to its high content of sugars, proteins, saturated fats, and complex carbohydrates, potentially predisposing individuals to insulin resistance and liver fat accumulation. It also highlights the need to consider celiac disease screening in asymptomatic patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) when metabolic risk factors are unclear.
Population
Pediatric patients with celiac disease, including those with obesity-related disorders like metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
gluten-free diet (GFD) | increase | metabolic profile | individuals | - | plays a pivotal role in determining an altered metabolic profile | #1 |
gluten-free diet (GFD) | increase | insulin resistance | individuals | - | predisposing individuals to the development of | #2 |
alterations in one of the components of the so-called "gut-liver axis" | increase | liver fat accumulation | - | - | might contribute to the increased afflux of toxic substances to the liver triggering | #3 |
alterations in one of the components of the so-called "gut-liver axis" | increase | hepatocellular damage | - | - | might contribute to the increased afflux of toxic substances to the liver triggering the liver fat accumulation and to the subsequent | #4 |
Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated systemic disorder elicited by the ingestion of gluten whose clinical presentation ranges from the asymptomatic form to clinical patterns characterized by multiple systemic involvement. Although CD is a disease more frequently diagnosed in patients with symptoms of malabsorption such as diarrhea, steatorrhea, weight loss, or failure to thrive, the raised rate of overweight and obesity among general pediatric and adult populations has increased the possibility to diagnose celiac disease in obese patients as well. Consequently, it is not difficult to also find obesity-related disorders in patients with CD, including "metabolic associated fatty liver disease" (MAFLD). The exact mechanisms linking these two conditions are not yet known. The going assumption is that a gluten-free diet (GFD) plays a pivotal role in determining an altered metabolic profile because of the elevated content of sugars, proteins, saturated fats, and complex carbohydrates, and the higher glycemic index of gluten-free products than gluten-contained foods, predisposing individuals to the development of insulin resistance. However, recent evidence supports the hypothesis that alterations in one of the components of the so-called "gut-liver axis" might contribute to the increased afflux of toxic substances to the liver triggering the liver fat accumulation and to the subsequent hepatocellular damage. The aim of this paper was to describe the actual knowledge about the factors implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis in pediatric patients with CD. The presented review allows us to conclude that the serological evaluations for CD with anti-transglutaminase antibodies, should be a part of the general workup in the asymptomatic patients with "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease" (NAFLD) when metabolic risk factors are not evident, and in the patients with steatohepatitis when other causes of liver disease are excluded.