Decreased Serum Adiponectin: An Early Event in Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Serum adiponectin is reduced in children with elevated ALT, similar to adults. However, children with presumed NAFLD do not have elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. This suggests that depressed adiponectin plays a more proximal role than elevated levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines in the development of NAFLD in children.