Increased Risk of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Low Birth Weight Individuals

An adverse fetal environment characterized by low birth weight (LBW) plays a key role in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The investigators recently demonstrated a 3-fold increase in liver fat in 26 early middle-aged LBW compared to 22 normal birth weight (NBW) men, and 20% of the LBW - but none of the normal birth weight (NBW) - men had previously unknown non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The investigators hypothesize that ectopic fat deposition and NAFLD is among the earliest disease manifestations and on the critical path to the development of more severe cardiometabolic disease in LBW. Here we aim to perform an extended nested case-control screening study to evaluate hepatic steatosis (NAFLD) and fibrosis in early middle-aged, non-obese LBW men and women and NBW controls. In total, 250 LBW men and women (birth weight (BW) <10% of the population) and 50 NBW controls (BW between 50-90% of the population) born at term (weeks 39-41), 34-49 years-of-age will be recruited from the National Danish Birth Registry for the nested case-control NAFLD screening study. The nested case-control NAFLD screening study will serve as a recruitment platform for a subsequent intervention study.

Inclusion criteria

• 250 healthy, men and women born with a low birth weight (birth weight (BW) <10% of the population) and 50 born with a normal birth weight controls (BW between 50-90% of the population)
• born at term (weeks 39-41)

Exclusion criteria

• BMI>35 kg/m2
• Disease/medication known to affect primary outcome
• Self-reported high physical activity level
• Alcohol intake above general recommendations.
• Metabolic/liver disease
• Weight gain/loss of >3 kg within the past 6 months