Lifestyle Intervention Improves Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Children with Down Syndrome
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: We evaluated the efficacy of a good lifestyle intervention on the severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in children with Down syndrome (DS). <b>Methods</b>: This retrospective longitudinal study included 31 children with Down syndrome (DS) who were affected by MASLD and attended nutritional counseling based on a nutritional approach (e.g., Mediterranean diet and antioxidant supplements), as well as physical exercise. Clinical parameters, markers of low-grade systemic inflammation, and hepatic steatosis, as assessed by ultrasound, were evaluated at baseline (T0) and after 6 months (T1). <b>Results</b>: Several anthropometric and biochemical parameters, including body mass index, waist circumference, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, aspartate aminotransferase, basal insulin, insulin resistance, pro-inflammatory interleukin-1β, and anti-inflammatory interleukin-10, showed significant improvement after 6 months of a nutritional approach. This study also found a regression of at least one grade of hepatic steatosis in a significant portion of patients, especially in those who received antioxidant supplements. <b>Conclusions</b>: Our study further supports the hypothesis that a healthy lifestyle intervention, based on adherence to the Mediterranean diet, natural supplements with antioxidant properties, and regular physical activity, can be considered a safe therapeutic approach for reducing the risk and severity of MASLD in children with DS.
Authors
- Vittorio Scoppola
- Diletta Valentini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0378-4499)
- Annalisa Crudele (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8131-8229)
- Antonella Mosca (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9646-7462)
- Alberto Villani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9120-0424)
- Anna Alisi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7241-6329)
- Caterina Bock (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2937-5768)
- Nadia Panera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5365-3123)
- Massimiliano Raponi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7757-6978)
- Chiara Di Camillo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5868-0190)
Institutions
- Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital (IT)
- Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nutrients
- Published
- 2025-07-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17142331
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Pancreatitis Pathology and Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.01
Funders
- Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù
- Ministero della Salute