Plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and its soluble receptor in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Introduction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a clinical pathologic condition, which leads to hepatocyte inflammation. The present study aimed to compare the plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) as inflammation markers in the overweight and obese children and adolescents with and without NAFLD. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 70 overweight and obese children and adolescents (37 males and 33 females), who were selected from the patients admitted to a nutrition clinic in Mashhad, located in the northeast of Iran. The diagnosis of NAFLD was confirmed by Fibro Scan, ultrasound, and elevation of liver enzyme. In addition, plasma VEGF and sVEGFR1 were measured in each patient. Results: Log-transformed VEGF levels had a significant, stepwise increase from grade zero to the first, second, and third grades (P<0.001). However, log-transformed sVEGFR1 showed a regular trend in various grades of NAFLD (P=0.3).The odds ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) of VEGF across the NAFLD categories was estimated at 1.00, 0.99 (95% CI: 0.97-1.01), 1.02 (95% CI: 0.99-1.04), and 1.04 (95% CI: 1.02-1.06). On the other hand, the odds ratios remained relatively unchanged after the adjustment of age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). Conclusion: According to the results, there were significant, positive associations between plasma VEGF levels and grades of steatosis in overweight and obese children and adolescents even after the adjustment of age, gender, and BMI.