Analysis of the mediating role of BMI in associations of different folate forms with hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis in adolescents in the USA: results from the NHANES 2017-2018

Abstract

Our results show that serum total folate or 5-Methyl-tetrahydrofolate are negatively correlated with hepatic steatosis or liver stiffness in adolescents, and BMI plays major mediating role in this relationship. Our findings emphasize the importance of monitoring the concentration of serum folate, not just the serum total folate concentration.