Steatohepatosis and steatohepatitis in overweight children: therapeutic methods

A.A. Zvyagin, N.Yu. Fateeva, T.V. Chubarov, O.A. Zhdanova

Voronezh State Medical University named after N.N. Burdenko, Voronezh

The article presents data on the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), commonly presented in overweight children (up to 77%). This pathology is based on the lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and the cell death in the liver with progressive inflammation, apoptosis and fibrosis. NAFLD includes several forms: steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis. Steatosis and steatohepatitis are reversible stages in complex therapy. Since these pathological conditions in most cases are associated with overweight or obesity, the treatment of children with this pathology includes both non-drug methods (lifestyle modification, diet therapy, physical activity) and the use of different pharmacological drugs, biologically active substances with antioxidant effects (omega-3, omega-6 fatty acids, α-tocopherol, docosahexagenoic acid, choline, astaxanthin). The best known drugs for non-alcoholic steatohepatosis and steatohepatitis are preparations with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). These preparations can become a promising group to treat various NAFLD forms because of their hepatoprotective, choleretic, cholelitholytic, hypocholesterolemic effect in combination with diet therapy and physical activity.

Keywords: steatohepatosis, steatohepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, children, ursodeoxycholic acid, treatment, children.

For citation: Zvyagin A.A., Fateeva N.Yu., Chubarov T.V., Zhdanova O.A. Steatohepatosis and steatohepatitis in overweight children: therapeutic methods. RMJ. 2022;3:–12.