High Prevalence of Elevated Alanine Aminotransferase in American Indian Children Seen in a Pediatric Weight Management Clinic

Authors

Kalyan Ray Parashette, Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11175 Campus Street, Coleman Pavilion CP-A1120, Loma Linda, CA 92354
Kathryn E Coakley, College of Population Health, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131
Alberta S Kong, Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, MSC 10 5590, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131
Elizabeth Y Jimenez, College of Population Health, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131; Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, MSC 10 5590, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131
Sylvia Negrete, Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, MSC 10 5590, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-5-2024

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) can indicate risk for metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, there are little data about the prevalence of elevated ALT in American Indian (AI) children.

METHODS: Baseline data from children attending the pediatric weight management clinic were used to describe the prevalence of elevated ALT, stratified by race and ethnicity.

RESULTS: The prevalence of elevated ALT was higher among children who were male, older, had higher BMI Z-scores, and were Non-Hispanic and AI.

DISCUSSION: In this clinic, AI children with overweight and obesity had a disproportionately high prevalence of elevated ALT; root causes of this disparity should be identified.

Publisher

Elsevier Science

Publication Title

The American journal of gastroenterology

ISSN

1572-0241

Recommended Citation

Parashette KR, Coakley KE, Kong AS, Jimenez EY, Negrete S. High Prevalence of Elevated Alanine Aminotransferase in American Indian Children Seen in a Pediatric Weight Management Clinic. Am J Gastroenterol. 2024 Feb 5. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002711. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38314813.