Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease closely associated with obesity and insulin resistance. Because of the obesity epidemic, NAFLD has become the most common liver disease in children and adults. Extrapolating from adult natural history studies, in the next several decades, NAFLD may cause end-stage liver disease in over 150,000 of today's children. In the United States, caloric sweetener consumption has increased dramatically over the past 3 decades resulting in higher daily consumption of fructose, a monosaccharide that is metabolized primarily in the liver. In animal models, fructose induces fatty liver as well as hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress, obesity and hypertension. Thus, fructose-induced fatty liver closely mimics features of human NAFLD. It is unknown if fructose induces fatty liver, dyslipidemia and oxidative stress in children. We hypothesize that dietary fructose plays a critical role in the induction of NAFLD in susceptible obese children. The long range goal is to improve health by optimizing nutrition in the prevention and treatment of obesity-associated pediatric NAFLD. The objective of these specific studies is to determine if dietary fructose increases plasma triglycerides and oxidative stress in children with NAFLD. These studies are innovative as fructose has not been studied in children with NAFLD despite the fact that children have a high consumption of fructose. These results will be significant for public health because fructose consumption is pervasive and could be modified to improve health on a societal level. The applicant is a pediatric hepatologist who has completed a Masters of Science in Public Health She is an outstanding candidate with a proven focus of research in pediatric NAFLD and nutrition. She is mentored by two senior investigators with extensive experience in translational research and nutrition relevant to these studies. Future training in biochemistry, nutrition, stable isotope tracer studies and novel hepatic and metabolite imaging is planned. This mentored research experience will facilitate her development into a successful independent physician scientist.

Public Health Relevance

This research will improve knowledge about the role of fructose in pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a disease that affects over 3 million children in the United States. These studies are designed to lead to improved treatment and prevention of NAFLD in children, thus improving the health of millions of children.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23DK080953-05
Application #
8322772
Study Section
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases B Subcommittee (DDK)
Program Officer
Podskalny, Judith M,
Project Start
2008-09-20
Project End
2014-08-31
Budget Start
2012-09-01
Budget End
2014-08-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$173,394
Indirect Cost
$12,844
Name
Emory University
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
066469933
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322
Vos, Miriam B; Jin, Ran; Konomi, Juna V et al. (2018) A randomized, controlled, crossover pilot study of losartan for pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Pilot Feasibility Stud 4:109
Mendoza, Michael; Caltharp, Shelley; Song, Ming et al. (2017) Low Hepatic Tissue Copper in Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 65:89-92
Mendoza, Michael; Caltharp, Shelley; Song, Ming et al. (2017) Low Hepatic Tissue Copper in Pediatric Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr :
Holzberg, Jeffrey R; Jin, Ran; Le, Ngoc-Anh et al. (2016) Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Predicts Quantity of Hepatic Steatosis Independent of Insulin Resistance and Body Weight. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 62:819-23
Jin, Ran; Banton, Sophia; Tran, ViLinh T et al. (2016) Amino Acid Metabolism is Altered in Adolescents with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-An Untargeted, High Resolution Metabolomics Study. J Pediatr 172:14-19.e5
Corey, Kathleen E; Vuppalanchi, Raj; Vos, Miriam et al. (2015) Improvement in liver histology is associated with reduction in dyslipidemia in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 60:360-7
Jin, Ran; Le, Ngoc-Anh; Cleeton, Rebecca et al. (2015) Amount of hepatic fat predicts cardiovascular risk independent of insulin resistance among Hispanic-American adolescents. Lipids Health Dis 14:39
Vos, Miriam B (2014) Nutrition, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and the microbiome: recent progress in the field. Curr Opin Lipidol 25:61-6
Jin, Ran; Welsh, Jean A; Le, Ngoc-Anh et al. (2014) Dietary fructose reduction improves markers of cardiovascular disease risk in Hispanic-American adolescents with NAFLD. Nutrients 6:3187-201
Jin, Ran; Willment, Andrew; Patel, Shivani S et al. (2014) Fructose induced endotoxemia in pediatric nonalcoholic Fatty liver disease. Int J Hepatol 2014:560620

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