Childhood Physical Activity Levels Tied to Risk for Liver Disease in Young Adults

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, June 19, 2024 -- Increasing physical activity during childhood may independently lower the risk for liver disease in young adulthood, according to a study published online May 29 in npj Gut and Liver.

Andrew O. Agbaje, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., from the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, used data from 2,684 children (aged 11 years) participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children who had accelerometer data from at least one follow-up timepoint.

Agbaje found that the prevalence of liver steatosis was 2.6 percent at age 17 years and 20.5 percent at age 24 years. There was an association between a cumulative one-minute/day increase in sedentary time from ages 11 to 24 years and higher odds of liver cirrhosis (odds ratio [OR], 1.004) and severe liver steatosis (OR, 1.001) at age 24 years. Progressively increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) from ages 17 to 24 years was associated with increased childhood sedentary time. Lower odds of liver cirrhosis (OR, 0.990) and severe liver steatosis (OR, 0.999) at age 24 years were seen with cumulative one-minute/day light physical activity. Lower odds of severe liver steatosis (OR, 0.996) were also seen with cumulative one-minute/day moderate-to-vigorous physical activity at age 24 years. Increased fat mass significantly suppressed the effect of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on lowering liver steatosis (64 percent suppression).

"The most effective antidote to the devastating health effects of childhood sedentariness is not the much-advertised moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of 60 minutes per day," Agbaje said in a statement. "Rather, it is the overlooked light-intensity physical activity of three to four hours per day."

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2024-06-20 01:15

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords