| Summary: | Abstract Background Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging clinical problem among obese adolescents. Methods This study was conducted on 40 obese adolescents, previously diagnosed by ultrasonography to determine liver status and confirmed to have NAFLD, and 40 non-obese healthy controls matching in age and sex. Anthropometric measurements were taken and the Homeostatic Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) test was performed. Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were measured, and the biochemical parameters like blood glucose, insulin, lipid profile, and liver enzymes (ALT and AST) were also measured. Results Anthropometric measurements were significantly higher in the obese group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Obese adolescents had significantly higher values of serum insulin, HOMA-IR, CRP, ALT, triglycerides, total cholesterol (P < 0.05), and NGAL (P < 0.01) and a lower HDL-C value than the control group. Also, we found a highly significant correlation between the CRP, insulin, and NGAL levels where P < 0.01. Conclusion NGAL can be used as a biomarker for predicting incidence of NAFLD in obese adolescents. Trial registration NRC17006. Registered: 19 January 2017
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