The Prevalent Rates of Abnormal Serum Aminotransferase Levels and Total Cholesterol Levels among Adolescents with Obesity

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to look at prevalences of abnormal serum aminotransferase levels and abnormal serum total cholesterol levels among adolescents with obesity in Seoul area. METHODS: Body mass index[BMI(kg/m2)], serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST) alanine aminotransferase(ALT), and total cholesterol levels were measured in 26,876 adolescents(male 13,287, female 13,589) of first grade of high school in Seoul between the ages of 15 and 16 years, enrolled in a large health examination survey by Seoul School Health Center(SSHC) in 2001. Obesity was defined as BMI more than 95th percentile for age and sex and normal weight was defined as BMI between 25th percentile and 75th percentile for age and sex. Abnormal levels of AST, ALT and total cholesterol were defined as more than 95th percentile for age and sex. RESULTS: The BMI at 95th percentile was 28.7 in males and 26.9 in females. The prevalence of abnormal AST levels was higher in obesity group than in normal weight group. In males, those were 23.7% and 3.7%, respectively(P<0.01, x2-value 529.2). In females, those were 11.8% and 4.9 %, respectively(P<0.01, x2-value 56.3). The prevalence of abnormal ALT levels was significantly higher in the obesity group compared with the normal weight group. In males, those were 33.9% and 1.7%, respectively(P<0.01, chi2-value 1,693.4). In females, those were 22.3% and 3.9%, repectively(P<0.01, x2-value 397.6). The prevalence of abnormal total cholesterol levels was higher in the obesity group than in the normal weight group. In males, those were 16.8% and 3.5%, respectively(P<0.01, x2-value 268.3). In females, those were 9.0% and 5.4%, respectively(P<0.01, x2- value 14.2). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that the prevalences of abnormal AST, ALT and total cholesterol level were higher in the obese group than in the normal weight group.