Objectives Given their established role in hepatic function and insulin resistance for adults, early screening of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the pediatric population may potentially be improved by the assessment of elevated liver enzymes. Methods Our study enrolled 151 nondiabetic children aged 10–14 years. Patients were assessed for demographics and five risk factors for T2DM. The levels of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were determined in serum samples. The effects of demographics and risk factors on abnormal liver enzyme levels were assessed with univariate chi-square analyses and also with multivariate logistic regression analyses, which were controlled for gender. Results Frequencies for abnormal liver enzyme values were as follows: 13 (9%) for GGT, 5 (3%) for ALT, and 20 (13%) for ALP. Across analyses, two results were consistently statistically significant. Females were more likely to have abnormal ALP levels, and patients with BMI percentile ≥95% and with acanthosis nigricans were more likely to have abnormal GGT levels. Conclusions Our study suggests GGT as potential marker for T2DM discovery in children. Subsequent long-term longitudinal studies would help to more clearly delineate GGT’s association with T2DM. Additionally, future studies that elucidate the molecular contribution of GGT elevation to T2DM pathogenesis are needed.

中文翻译：

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儿童肝酶升高的患病率及其与 2 型糖尿病危险因素的关系

目标鉴于它们在成人肝功能和胰岛素抵抗中的既定作用，通过评估升高的肝酶可能会改善儿科人群 2 型糖尿病 (T2DM) 的早期筛查。方法 我们的研究招募了 151 名 10-14 岁的非糖尿病儿童。对患者的人口统计学和 T2DM 的五个危险因素进行了评估。测定血清样品中 γ-谷氨酰转肽酶 (GGT)、丙氨酸转氨酶 (ALT) 和碱性磷酸酶 (ALP) 的水平。人口统计学和危险因素对异常肝酶水平的影响通过单变量卡方分析和多变量逻辑回归分析进行评估，这些分析对性别进行了控制。结果肝酶值异常的频率如下：GGT 13 (9%)，ALT 5 (3%)，ALP 为 20 (13%)。在所有分析中，两个结果始终具有统计学意义。女性更可能有异常 ALP 水平，BMI 百分位≥95% 和黑棘皮病患者更可能有异常 GGT 水平。结论 我们的研究表明 GGT 是发现儿童 T2DM 的潜在标志物。随后的长期纵向研究将有助于更清楚地描述 GGT 与 T2DM 的关联。此外，未来的研究需要阐明 GGT 升高对 T2DM 发病机制的分子贡献。结论 我们的研究表明 GGT 是发现儿童 T2DM 的潜在标志物。随后的长期纵向研究将有助于更清楚地描述 GGT 与 T2DM 的关联。此外，未来的研究需要阐明 GGT 升高对 T2DM 发病机制的分子贡献。结论 我们的研究表明 GGT 是发现儿童 T2DM 的潜在标志物。随后的长期纵向研究将有助于更清楚地描述 GGT 与 T2DM 的关联。此外，未来的研究需要阐明 GGT 升高对 T2DM 发病机制的分子贡献。