We studied 45 Ms, 43 Ks and 84 age-, gender and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls (age 29.0 ±8.4 years, BMI 23.5 ± 5.0 kg/m2). Using LS ratio, malnutritionsurvivors had less liver fat than controls (1.3± 0.2 vs 1.2 ± 0.9, p = 0.03). Marasmussurvivors had lower BW than Ks (-0.51 kg; p = 0.02), were younger (p =0.02), had smaller waists (p = 0.03), were thinner (p =0.01) and had less body fat (p = 0.05) compared to Ks.Marasmussurvivors had more liver fat than Ks after adjusting for age, gender and BW (â = -2.62, SE = 1.23; p= 0.03). Lower BW infants had less liver fat after adjusting for diagnosis (â = -1.51, SE = 0.76; p = 0.04).
CONCLUSION:
Fatty liver occurs at lower BMI in Ms compared with Ks; this difference is likely due to both prenatal and postnatal factors acting independently. While further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms involved, our data suggest the need to monitor infants exposed to severe acute malnutrition beyond the acute episode.