Liver glycogen stores via 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy in healthy children: randomized, controlled study

Horstman, Astrid MH.; Bawden, Stephen J.; Spicer, Abi; Darwish, Noura; Goyer, Amélie; Egli, Léonie; Rupp, Natacha; Minehira, Kaori; Gowland, Penny; Breuillé, Denis; Macdonald, Ian A.; Simpson, Elizabeth J.

Abstract

Background: Owing to its role in glucose homeostasis, liver glycogen concentration ([LGly]) can be a marker of altered metabolism seen in disorders that impact the health of children. However, there is a paucity of normative data for this measure in children to allow comparison with patients, and time-course assessment of [LGly] in response to feeding has not been reported. In addition, carbon-13 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C-MRS) is used extensively in research to assess liver metabolites in adult health and disease noninvasively, but similar measurements in children are lacking. Objectives: The main objectives were to quantify the depletion of [LGly] after overnight fasting and the subsequent response to feeding. Methods: In a randomly assigned, open-label, incomplete block design study, healthy, normal-weight children (8–12 y) attended 2 evening visits, each separated by ≥5 d and directly followed by a morning visit. An individually tailored, standardized meal was consumed 3-h prior to evening assessments. Participants then remained fasted until the morning visit. [LGly] was assessed once in the fed (20:00) and fasted state (08:00) using 13C-MRS. After the 8:00 assessment, 200 ml of a mixed-macronutrient drink containing 15.5 g (402 kJ) or 31 g carbohydrates (804 kJ), or water only, was consumed, with 13C-MRS measurements then performed hourly for 4 h. Each child was randomly assigned to 2 of 3 drink options across the 2 mornings. Data are expressed as mean (SD). Results: Twenty-four children including females and males (13F:11M) completed the study [9.9 (1.1) y, BMI percentile 45.7 (25.9)]. [LGly] decreased from 377.9 (141.3) to 277.3 (107.4) mmol/L overnight; depletion rate 0.14 (0.15) mmol/L min. Incremental responses of [LGly] to test drinks differed (P < 0.001), with incremental net area under the curve of [LGly] over 4 h being higher for 15.5 g [−67.1 (205.8) mmol/L·240 min; P < 0.01] and 31 g carbohydrates [101.6 (180.9) mmol/L·240 min; P < 0.005] compared with water [−253.1 (231.2) mmol/L·240 min]. Conclusions: After overnight fasting, [LGly] decreased by 22.9 (25.1)%, and [LGly] incremental net area under the curve over 4 h was higher after subsequent consumption of 15.5 g and 31 g carbohydrates, compared to water.

Citation

Horstman, A. M., Bawden, S. J., Spicer, A., Darwish, N., Goyer, A., Egli, L., Rupp, N., Minehira, K., Gowland, P., Breuillé, D., Macdonald, I. A., & Simpson, E. J. (2023). Liver glycogen stores via 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy in healthy children: randomized, controlled study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 117(4), 709-716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.01.014

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 13, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jan 20, 2023
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jan 29, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 2, 2023
• Journal: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
• Print ISSN: 0002-9165
• Electronic ISSN: 1938-3207
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 117
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 709-716
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.01.014
• Keywords: Muscle glycogen concentration, fasting, feeding, carbohydrate metabolism, gastric emptying
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/16507001
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523005427?via%3Dihub