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Erschienen in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences 10/2014

01.10.2014 | Original Article

Serum Alanine Aminotransferase Independently Correlates with Intrahepatic Triglyceride Contents in Obese Subjects

verfasst von: Zheng Chen, Cheng-Kun Han, Ling-Ling Pan, Hui-Jie Zhang, Zhi-Min Ma, Zhu-Feng Huang, Shi Chen, Xiong-Jie Zhuang, Zhi-Bin Li, Xiao-Ying Li, Xue-Jun Li, Shu-Yu Yang

Erschienen in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences | Ausgabe 10/2014

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Abstract

Background and Aim

Liver enzymes including serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) are well recognized as surrogate makers reflecting non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the associations of serum ALT, AST and GGT with hepatic lipid contents are not well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between liver enzymes and intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) contents, and explore the feasibility in using liver enzymes to reflect accumulation of IHTG in obese subjects.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 475 obese adults aged 40–65 years. Anthropometric parameters and blood biochemical indexes including liver enzymes, glucose and lipid profiles were measured. The liver triglyceride contents of subjects were determined by 1H-MRS.

Results

Serum ALT, AST and GGT were positively correlated with IHTG contents (p < 0.01). Serum ALT, AST and GGT levels at the highest quartile of IHTG contents were significantly elevated as compared with those in the lowest quartile (p < 0.01). Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that serum ALT, but not AST or GGT was independently associated with IHTG contents. By logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio for higher IHTG contents was increased by 1.464 times/1 SD increase in serum ALT level after adjusting for multiple confounding factors [OR (95 % CI) 2.464 (1.584–3.834)]. However, these relationships could not be observed between serum AST or GGT with IHTG contents.

Conclusions

Serum ALT level is independently correlated with the hepatic triglyceride contents in obese subjects and more appropriate to be used as a predictor for the degree of NAFLD rather than AST and GGT.
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Metadaten
Titel
Serum Alanine Aminotransferase Independently Correlates with Intrahepatic Triglyceride Contents in Obese Subjects
verfasst von
Zheng Chen
Cheng-Kun Han
Ling-Ling Pan
Hui-Jie Zhang
Zhi-Min Ma
Zhu-Feng Huang
Shi Chen
Xiong-Jie Zhuang
Zhi-Bin Li
Xiao-Ying Li
Xue-Jun Li
Shu-Yu Yang
Publikationsdatum
01.10.2014
Verlag
Springer US
Erschienen in
Digestive Diseases and Sciences / Ausgabe 10/2014
Print ISSN: 0163-2116
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-2568
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-014-3214-3

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