A study has found that higher hair cortisol concentration (HCC) at 6 years is correlated with higher body mass index (BMI), fat mass index, liver fat fraction, and increased risks of overweight and non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD) at 10 years. The correlations for liver fat fraction and NAFLD are the only independent of the fat mass index at 6 years.
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| Photo: Child on Weighing Scale | InStyleHealth |
Researchers evaluated the correlations of HCC at 6 years with general and organ fat measures, risk of overweight, and NAFLD at 10 years, and established whether these were independent of adiposity measures at 6 years.
There were 2,042 children who are 6 years old, where researches have
measured the HCC in the children’s hair, being included in the Generation R Study
– a population-based prospective group study.
The researchers
also obtained data on body mass index (BMI), at 10 years, fat mass index was
measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, and visceral fat index,
pericardial fat index, liver fat fraction measured by magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI), and risk of overweight and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
(NAFLD).
The correlations of higher HCC at 6 years with higher
BMI, fat mass index, and heightened risk of overweight at age 10 years were
mostly driven by the correlations observed at 6 years.
Particularly, HCCs at 6 years associated with a higher
liver fat fraction and higher risk of NAFLD at 10 years, independent of fat mass
index at 6 years. HCCs, on the other hand, showed no association with
pericardial or visceral fat indices.
According to the researchers, “Stress may lead to an
adverse body fat distribution from childhood onwards.” For complete details of
this study, click here.
Source: J Clin Endocrinol
Metab 2021;106:e551-e561