Relationship between blood leptin and non-alcoholic fatty liver in obese male adolescent

Lee, Eun Sang; Lee, Don Haeng; Kim, Seung Youn; Kim, Jin Young; Kim, Wha Sook; Lee, Hoon Jae; Choi, Won; Kim, Pum Soo; Kim, Hyung Gil; Kim, Young Soo

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The non-alcoholic fatty liver is characterised by accumulation of triglycerides within liver parenchymal cells without intake of alcohol. Leptin is produced by peripheral adipose cells and it's blood concentrations are positively correlated with blood insulin levels, independent of body mass index. Non-alcoholic fatty liver is associated with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia even in lean subjects. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate whether hyperleptinemia is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver, independent of age and obesity.
METHODS
The age, weight, BMI and blood laboratory data such as LFT, lipid profiles, insulin, and leptin were analyzed on 26 control subjects and 30 non-alcoholic fatty liver subjects with BMI above 25 kg/m2 in male adults.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference in their age, height, weight, and BMI between normal control group and non-alcoholic fatty liver group. But, blood triglyceride, leptin, and insulin level of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver were significantly higher than those of normal control group.
CONCLUSION
Blood leptin levels of non-alcoholic fatty liver group were significantly higher than that of control group. Thus, high circulating leptin concentrations may play a role in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver, regardless of age and obesity.