Search

Abstract: Background and aim: To explore associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] concentrations and liver histology in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods and results: We studied 60 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD, and 60 healthy controls of comparable age, sex and body mass index (BMI). NAFLD patients had a marked decrease in winter serum 25(OH)D concentrations (51.0±22 vs. 74.5±15nmol/L, P <0.001) compared with controls. Metabolic syndrome (MetS; as defined by the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria) and its individual components occurred more frequently among NAFLD patients. The marked differences in 25(OH)D concentrations observed between the groups were little affected by adjustment for age, sex, BMI, creatinine, calcium, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-insulin resistance, and the presence of the MetS. Interestingly, among NAFLD patients, decreased 25(OH)D concentrations were closely associated with the histological severity of hepatic steatosis, necroinflammation and fibrosis (P <0.001 for all) independent of age, sex, BMI, creatinine, calcium, HOMA-insulin resistance, and presence of the MetS. Conclusions: Compared with controls, NAFLD patients have a marked decrease in serum 25(OH)D concentrations, which is closely associated with histopathological features of NAFLD. Further investigation into whether vitamin D3 may play a role in the development and progression of NAFLD appears to be warranted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives To explore associations between plasma adiponectin concentrations and liver histology in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Design and patients In a cross-sectional study, we enrolled 60 consecutive NAFLD patients and 60 age-, sex- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls. Measurements NAFLD (by liver biopsy), plasma adiponectin concentrations, insulin resistance (by homeostasis model assessment, HOMA-IR) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) features. Results NAFLD patients had a marked decrease in plasma adiponectin concentration (6·1 ± 2·8 vs. 13·6 ± 3·8 µg/ml, P < 0·001) compared with matched controls. MetS, as defined by the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria, and its individual components were more frequent among NAFLD patients. The marked differences in adiponectin concentrations that were observed between the groups were little affected by adjustment for age, sex, BMI, HOMA-IR score and MetS components. Notably, decreased adiponectin levels were closely associated with the degree of hepatic steatosis, necroinflammation and fibrosis ( P < 0·001 for all) among NAFLD patients. By logistic regression analysis, low adiponectin levels independently predicted hepatic steatosis [odds ratio (OR) 2·3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·5–5·8, P < 0·001] and necroinflammation (OR 3·1, 95% CI 1·9–7, P < 0·001), but not fibrosis ( P = 0·07), after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, HOMA-IR and MetS components. Conclusions NAFLD patients have markedly lower plasma adiponectin concentrations than control subjects. Low adiponectin levels are strongly associated with the severity of liver histology, thus further supporting the hypothesis that adiponectin might be involved in the development of NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate whether subjects with nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis (HS) differed in their circulating adiponectin levels compared with those in subjects without HS and, if so, to examine to what extent such differences are mediated by the adverse pattern of the metabolic syndrome variables, typically observed in these subjects.In a cross-sectional study, we analysed 68 healthy, mildly obese individuals with a negative or negligible daily alcohol consumption.HS (by ultrasonography), glucose tolerance status (by oral glucose load), insulin resistance[by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)], and plasma adiponectin concentration[by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)] were measured.Subjects with nonalcoholic HS (n = 43) had markedly lower plasma adiponectin concentrations than those without HS (n = 25) (5·6 ± 3vs.10·8 ± 4 µg/ml;P < 0·001). In addition, the former had significantly higher values for body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR), HOMA-insulin resistance score, plasma insulin (at fasting and after glucose load), plasma triglyceride and liver enzyme concentrations[such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT)], and tended to have lower high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration. The significant differences in plasma adiponectin levels that were observed between the groups were little affected by adjustment for potential confounding variables, such as age, sex, BMI, WHR, lipids and HOMA-insulin resistance score. Similarly, in multivariate regression analyses, hypoadiponectinaemia significantly predicted the presence of HS (P < 0·001) and the increased levels of GGT and ALT (P < 0·05), independently of potential confounders.These results show that decreased plasma adiponectin concentrations are closely correlated with nonalcoholic HS in healthy obese individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]