Daily glucose variability is associated with intrahepatic fat content, β cell sensitivity, and biomarkers of glycolysis in youth with obesity.

Objective: Pediatric obesity is associated with insulin resistance, which, in turn, impacts glucose and lipid metabolism. This study sought to assess how glucose variability relates to intrahepatic fat content, β cell insulin sensitivity, and glycolysis in youth with obesity. Methods: A total of 27 youth with obesity (11 girls, BMI percentile, median [25th–75th percentiles]: 99.0 [97.9–99.0]) wore a continuous glucose monitoring device for 10 days and underwent a 3‐h oral glucose tolerance test. β cell function was assessed using the oral minimal model, and liver proton density fat fraction was measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Average sensor‐derived glucose and glucose standard deviation (STDEV) and coefficient of variation (CV) were associated with liver proton density fat fraction (p = 0.0130, p = 0.0005, and p = 0.0028, respectively). First‐phase insulin secretion, basal insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity were associated with STDEV (p = 0.0344, p = 0.0091, and p = 0.0031, respectively) and CV (p = 0.0128, p = 0.0012, and p = 0.0022, respectively). STDEV and CV were also associated with 2‐h glucose (p = 0.0067 and p = 0.0324, respectively) and plasma lactate (p = 0.0030 and p = 0.0123, respectively). Conclusions: Daily glucose variability is associated with the degree of intrahepatic fat content, postprandial glucose, and plasma lactate concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]