LIVER-X · Disentangling the early-life environmental determinants of pediatric LIVER injury: An eXposome-wide approach

Disentangling the early-life environmental determinants of pediatric LIVER injury: An eXposome-wide approach

The LIVER-X project investigates how the environment in early life—beginning in pregnancy and continuing through childhood—can influence the development of liver disease and metabolic dysfunction in children and adolescents. Chronic liver disease is a growing public health concern worldwide, with cases of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MASLD) increasingly being diagnosed in children and adolescents. This form of liver injury is strongly linked to metabolic health issues, such as obesity and diabetes, and places a growing burden on healthcare systems. Alarmingly, the condition often starts without symptoms and may go undetected for years. Traditionally, liver disease prevention strategies have focused on diet and physical activity. However, a growing body of research points to the role of environmental factors—including exposure to air pollution, toxic chemicals, and poor urban planning—as important contributors to liver and metabolic diseases. These exposures often occur simultaneously and may interact with genetic and lifestyle-related vulnerabilities. Yet, the long-term effects of these exposures during critical periods of development remain poorly understood. LIVER-X addresses this knowledge gap by applying a novel, comprehensive approach known as the exposome—which refers to the totality of environmental exposures across an individual’s lifetime. The project uses existing data from large, well-established population cohorts. These datasets include thousands of children with information on chemical exposures (such as air pollutants, plasticizers, and heavy metals), lifestyle factors (such as diet and physical activity), genetic susceptibility, and objective liver health measurements, including blood biomarkers and MRI imaging. The overall objective of LIVER-X is to identify which environmental exposures during early life most significantly increase the risk of pediatric metabolic dysfunction and liver injury—and to understand how these risks are modified by diet quality and genetic predisposition. This research has the potential to produce a step change in how we think about liver health. By moving beyond single exposure-outcome studies, LIVER-X examines real-world, combined effects of multiple exposures, much like they occur in everyday life. This helps better reflect the complexity of modern urban environments. The anticipated impact of the project includes: - Scientific advancement: LIVER-X is among the first studies in Europe to use an exposome-wide approach to study pediatric liver disease. It applies cutting-edge statistical tools and combines environmental, genetic, and lifestyle data in novel ways. - Public health relevance: The findings will help identify preventable environmental risk factors and inform early-life interventions aimed at reducing liver-related health issues across the population. - Policy contribution: Results will support evidence-based environmental and urban planning policies, particularly in vulnerable communities where exposure to pollution and poor diets co-occur. - Education and capacity building: The project includes training components for young scientists and public health professionals, as well as communication materials for broader audiences, including educators and policymakers. By improving understanding of the environmental origins of liver disease, LIVER-X contributes to the wider European and global goals of reducing chronic disease burden, promoting child health, and achieving more sustainable and equitable living environments.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз