New blood test detects early signs of Liver and Heart disease in Children

Researchers at King's College London have discovered a new connection between lipids and disorders that affect children's metabolism. The discovery could provide an early warning system for diseases, including liver disease. Scientists have developed a new blood test that uses lipids to identify children who are more susceptible to obesity-related problems, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Lipids are traditionally considered fatty acids in the body, either good or bad types of cholesterol or triglycerides, fats found in the bloodstream that are most common in the human body.

Researchers propose that blood plasma testing machines already in use in hospitals could assist medical professionals in more quickly identifying signs of early disease in children and facilitate their access to appropriate treatment. The findings also challenge the common assumption that cholesterol is a leading cause of obesity-related complications in children. They identify new lipid molecules that contribute to health risks such as blood pressure but are not related only to the weight of the child.

Using a technique associated with chemistry called mass spectrometry, one estimates the thousands of different lipids present in the body, each of which has a different function. The team took a control sample of 1,300 children with obesity and evaluated their blood lipids. Next, 200 of them were put on the Holbeck model for one year on a lifestyle intervention popular in Denmark for obese people. Obesity remains a risk factor for conditions such as fatty liver disease, but the team hopes doctors can use these measurements to treat children when they are at risk and not just slightly older than their peers.