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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is recognized in 20-30% of general population but among the people with impaired glucose metabolism this percentage is about 70-90%. The aim of this study is to assess the determinants of NAFLD with respect to patients' gender. We examined 180 patients, 73 women and 107 men. Increased body mass index (BMI), waist circumference above the norm are the determinants of NAFLD irrespectively to gender. Besides it has been observed that in the women group the increase of HDL-cholesterol by 1 mmol/l decreases the chances of NAFLD occurrence by 90%.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is recognized in 20-30% of general population but among the people with impaired glucose metabolism is about 70-90%. There is increasing number publications that show strong association between NAFLD, metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance as risk factors of cardiovascular complication. Gens PNPLAL3 NCAN, LYPAL1 and GCKR that have been linked to lipid metabolism disorders or impaired glucose metabolism can also contribute to development of NAFLD. The reduction of body mass and of known risk factors of atherosclerosis and restriction of simple carbohydrates in diet contribute to regression of NAFLD.

Arterial compliance is a significant prognostic factor of cardiovascular risk. Elevated serum homocysteine level is related to increased oxidative stress and impaired endothelial function. The aim of the study was to evaluate factors influencing arterial compliance in patients with diabetes. We examined 30 patients with type 2 diabetes. In each patient we performed measurements of arterial compliance, blood pressure, serum lipids, glucose and homocysteine concentration and microalbuminuria. Serum lipids were determined by enzymatic methods, using Boehringer-Mannheim reagents, homocysteine levels by ELISA, using Bio-Rad reagents, HbA1c by HPLC method and microalbuminuria by immunonephelometric method. Arterial compliance assessment was based on measurements of pulse wave velocity (PWV), registered on femoral and carotid arteries (mean of 20 measurements), using automatic sensor (Fukuda) and Complior system. The mean age of patients was 62.2 +/- 8.1 years, BMI 30.0 +/- 3.4 kg/m2, waist to hip ratio (WHR) 0.9 +/- 0.09, mean diabetes duration 14.1 +/- 7.5 years, and HbA1c level 7.7 +/- 1.5%. Mean cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride serum concentrations were as follows: 5.7 +/- 1, 2 mmol/l; 1.32 +/- 0.43 mmol/ll and 1.8 +/- 1.0 mmol/l, and homocysteine levels 16.3 +/- 3.9 mmol/l. Arterial compliance significantly correlated with age (r = 0.52, p = 0.007), homocysteine concentration (r = 0.47, p = 0.015), WHR(r = 0.47, p = 0.015) and creatinine levels (r = 0.51, p = 0.016). The results of the study suggest that in patients with type 2 diabetes arterial compliance is associated not only with age but also with serum homocysteine levels and renal function parameters.

HDL lipoproteins play an essential protective role against development of atherosclerosis 2 they participate in reverse cholesterol transport, act as antioxidants and have antiinflammatory properties. Antioxidant properties of HDL are associated with enzymes such as paraoxonase, LCAT and apolipoproteins apo A-1, apo A-2. HDLs antiinflammatory functions are associated with inhibition of expression of cellular adhesion molecules. Increase of low HDL-cholesterol concentration is now one of the main goals of treatment of lipid disorders for prevention of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. In this article we summarised the role of HDL in atherosclerosis development and influence of fish oils and antioxidant vitamins on lipids and lipoproteins fractions.

Increased homocysteine and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration is associated with increased coronary risk. The aim of the study was to assess the potential relationships between homocysteine and CRP levels and lipid coronary risk factors in men and women with diabetes. We examined 117 persons, 64 men and 53 women. Mean age of examined men was 62.0 +/- 8.1 yrs, mean diabetes duration 12.1 +/- 7.4 yrs, BMI 29.7 +/- 3.7 kg/m2; in women 60.6 +/- 8.1 yrs, 12.1 +/- 6.3 yrs and 31.8-4.9 kg/m2 respectively. Serum homocysteine and creatinine values were significantly higher in men than in women (15.3 +/- 4.7 vs 13.3 +/- 3.9 mumol/l and 93.6 +/- 19.8 vs 74.4 vs 17.2 mumol/l respectively), while HDL-cholesterol, fibrinogen and CRP levels were significantly higher in women than in men (1.28 +/- 0.5 vs 1.13 +/- 0.25 mmol/l; 3.53 +/- 0.5 vs 3.26 +/- 0.8 g/l and 4.7 +/- 3.2 mg/l vs 4.1 +/- 7.2 mg/l respectively). In men CRP concentration correlated significantly with BMI (r = 0.45, p < 0.01), fibrinogen (r = 0.42, p < 0.05) and HDL-cholesterol levels (r = -0.46, p < 0.01) I; in women it correlated with diabetes duration (r = 0.41, p < 0.01), BMI (r = 0.33, p < 0.05), WHR (r = 0.44, p < 0.01), postprandial glucose (r = 0.39, p < 0.05), HbA1c (r = 0.54, p < 0.010) and LDL-cholesterol concentration (r = 0.33, p < 0.05). Serum homocysteine was significantly associated with WHR (r = 0.39, p < 0.001) and creatinine (r = 0.26, p < 0.05) in men, while in women it also correlated with creatinine levels (r = 0.37, p < 0.01) and with age (r = 0.54, p < 0.001), HbA1c (r = 0.53, p < 0.01) and LDL-cholesterol levels (r = 0.31, p < 0.05). The results indicate the potential role of homocysteine and CRP level modification by influencing lipid levels and fat mass in patients with type 2 diabetes.