PD889 - IMPACT OF DIET QUALITY AND ENERGY INTAKE ON MASLD IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH OBESITY: THE ICAAN-ON STUDY

PD889

IMPACT OF DIET QUALITY AND ENERGY INTAKE ON MASLD IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH OBESITY: THE ICAAN-ON STUDY

H. G. Park^1,2,*, H.-J. An³, Y. M. Kim⁴, K. H. Park³, H. Lim^1,2

¹Department of Medical Nutrition, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, ²Research Institute of Medical Nutrition, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, ³Department of Family Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, ⁴University College, Yonsei University International Campus, Incheon, Korea, Republic Of

Rationale: Childhood and adolescents with obesity are strongly associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Although dietary modification is central to MASLD management, evidence on the combined effects of changes in energy intake and diet quality on liver-related outcomes remains limited.

Methods: A total of 158 participants aged 8–17 years with overweight or obesity (BMI ≥ 85^th percentile) completed a 6-month multidisciplinary intervention. Participants were classified into four subgroups based on changes in energy intake and Nutrition Quotient scores. Outcomes included MRI parameters, and metabolic risk factors

Results: Participants who reduced intake and improved diet quality demonstrated significant improvements, including reductions in hepatic proton density fat fraction (Δ = - 4.83%; p < 0.001), visceral adipose tissue (Δ = - 8.05cm²; p = 0.003), and liver enzyme levels (AST, Δ = - 8.3U/L p < 0.001; ALT Δ = - 14.4U/L p < 0.001, γ-GT; Δ = - 6.4U/L p < 0.001). In contrast, no meaningful improvements were observed in participants who reduced intake without improving diet quality.

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that reductions in intake, considering the diet quality, are necessary for the improvement of obesity and metabolic disease indicators. An integrated dietary intervention addressing both aspects is necessary for effective pediatric obesity management.

References: 1. Putri, Resthie R., et al. "Steatotic liver disease in pediatric obesity and increased risk for youth-onset type 2 diabetes." Diabetes Care 47.12 (2024): 2196-2204.
2. Younossi, Zobair, et al. "Global burden of NAFLD and NASH: trends, predictions, risk factors and prevention." Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 15.1 (2018): 11-20.

Disclosure of Interest: H. G. Park: None declared, H.-J. An: None declared, Y. M. Kim: None declared, K. H. Park Grant / Research Support from: The study was supported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (Grant number KCT0004137)., H. Lim Grant / Research Support from: The study was supported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (Grant number KCT0004137).