Korean J Lab Med.  2008 Jun;28(3):244-250. 10.3343/kjlm.2008.28.3.244.

Metabolic Characteristics and Associated Factors of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Diagnosed at Medical Checkups

• Nah EH
• Park JY

• KMID: 854874
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/kjlm.2008.28.3.244

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been reported to be related with metabolic disorder and frequently accompanied by abnormal liver function. This study was performed to investigate the metabolic characteristics of NAFLD and its associated factors.
METHODS
We analysed 7,150 subjects diagnosed with NAFLD (n=2,381) or normal liver (n=4,769) and classified them into four groups based on ultrasonography and ALT levels as follows: 1) Control (normal liver and ALT), 2) increased ALT (normal liver with increased ALT), 3) NAFLD I (fatty liver with normal ALT), and 4) NAFLD II (fatty liver with increased ALT). Age, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, blood lipids, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were compared, and the incidence of metabolic syndrome was also determined in each group.
RESULTS
The diastolic blood pressure, BMI, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, hsCRP, and the incidence of metabolic syndrome, were the highest in the NAFLD II group, followed by the NAFLD I group, the increased ALT group, and the control group in descending order. Meanwhile, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) was the lowest in the NAFLD II group. Male sex, age, systolic blood pressure, BMI, fasting glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), and hsCRP were associated with NAFLD (P<0.001). An increased level of ALT in NAFLD was significantly related with male sex, increased BMI, fasting glucose, triglyceride, and LDL-C, younger age and decreased HDL-C (P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
NAFLD was related with metabolic syndrome and the risk factors of cardiovascular disease in Koreans. The correlation was more prominent in NAFLD with increased ALT. Thus, a more intensive management is required for the individuals in the NAFLD with increased ALT.

Keyword

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; ALT; Cardiovascular risk factors; Metabolic syndrome

MeSH Terms

Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Alanine Transaminase/*blood
Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
C-Reactive Protein/analysis
Cardiovascular Diseases/diagnosis
Fatty Liver/*diagnosis
Female
Humans
Lipids/blood
Male
Metabolic Syndrome X/diagnosis
Middle Aged
Risk Factors

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the four groups. P<0.001 is for χ2 test among 4 groups.

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