Plasma Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Its Soluble Receptor in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

4 Mashhad university of medical sciences

5 Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Biochemistry and Nutrition, Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Surgery, and Cancer Research Centers, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Paradise Daneshgah, Azadi Square, Mashad, Iran

6 Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

7 Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a clinical pathologic condition, which leads to inflammation events in hepatocytes. The objective of present study was to compare the plasma levels of VEGF and sVEGFR-1 as inflammation factors in overweight and obese children and adolescents with and without NAFLD. Materials and Methods: A total sample of 70 overweight and obese children and adolescents (37 boys and 33 girls) were recruited from those admitted to a nutrition clinic in Mashhad, northeastern Iran. The presence of NAFLD was determined by FibroScan, ultrasound and elevation of liver enzyme. Plasma VEGF and sVEGFR1 were also determined for each individual. Results: VEGF levels (log transformed) showed a significant stepwise increase from “zero” to “first”, “second” and “third” grades (P trend<0.001). However, sVEGFR1 (log transformed) did not show a regular trend between different grades of NAFLD (P trend=0.3). The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for VEGF across categories of NAFLD were 1.00, 0.99 (0.97-1.01), 1.02 (0.99-1.04), and 1.04 (1.02-1.06). The odds ratios remained relatively unchanged even after adjusting for sex, age and BMI. Conclusion: This study showed a significant positive association between plasma VEGF levels and grades of steatosis in overweight and obese children and adolescents, even after adjustment for age, sex and BMI.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health
Volume 6, Issue 2
June 2018
Pages 107-114

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History

  • Receive Date: 21 July 2018
  • Accept Date: 08 December 2018

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