Bioelectrical impedance parameters add incremental value to waist-to-hip ratio for prediction of metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease in youth with overweight and obesity.

Introduction: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) presents a growing health concern in pediatric populations due to its association with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) offers a non-invasive and potentially effective alternative for identifying MASLD risk in youth with overweight or obesity. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the utility of BIA for screening for MASLD in the youth.

Method: This retrospective, cross-sectional study included 206 children and adolescents aged <20 years who were overweight and obese. The correlations between anthropometric measurements and BIA parameters and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were assessed using Pearson's correlation analysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the associations between these parameters and ALT level elevation and MASLD score. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to assess the predictive ability of the parameters for MASLD.

Results: Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), percentage body fat (PBF), and BIA parameters combined with anthropometric measurements were correlated with ALT level. Logistic regression revealed that WHR, skeletal muscle mass/WHR, PBF-WHR, fat-free mass/WHR, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass/WHR were correlated with ALT level elevation after adjusting for age, sex, and puberty. WHR, PBF-WHR, and visceral fat area (VFA)-WHR were positively correlated with the MASLD score in the total population after adjusting for age, sex, and puberty. PBF-WHR and VFA-WHR were correlated with the MASLD score even in youth with a normal ALT level. The cutoff points and area under the ROC curves were 34.6 and 0.69 for PBF-WHR, respectively, and 86.6 and 0.79 for VFA-WHR, respectively.

Discussion: This study highlights the utility of combining BIA parameters and WHR in identifying the risk of MASLD in overweight and obese youth, even in those with a normal ALT level. BIA-based screening offers a less burdensome and more efficient alternative to conventional MASLD screening methods, facilitating early detection and intervention in youth at risk of MASLD.