An Investigation of Degrees and Possible Biomarkers of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFL) Disease

Abstract

Aim: In this study, we aimed to investigate the related biochemical markers and their correlations in non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) disease.Materials and Methods: Patient files of individuals who came to our hospital for routine controls without any complaints were reviewed retrospectively. One hundred and forty-eight individuals (94 females; 54 males) whose ultrasonographic examination revealed varying degrees of NAFL disease constituted the patients group and 149 individuals (76 females; 73 males) whose results were clear the healthy controls group. We reviewed the ultrasonographically determined NAFL disease grades and fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, uric acid, C-reactive protein (CRP), triglyceride, LDL, HDL, TSH, vitamin D, AST, ALT, GGT and ALP values of a total of 297 patients.Results: With respect to sex, NAFL prevalence was significantly higher in the patients group than in the healthy controls for males (p=0.029). Similarly, fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, uric acid, triglyceride, HDL, ALT, AST, GGT and CRP levels were also significantly higher in the patients group. No effect of low HDL and vitamin D levels on NAFL disease grade was observed. Analyses based on NAFL disease grade showed statistically significant difference between the subgroups of disease grade of the patients group in terms of fasting blood glucose, HOMA-IR, ALT, AST and GGT mean values. When the analyses were repeated after the grade 2 and 3 subgroups were combined, there was statistically significant difference between the new grade 1 and 2 subgroups in terms of fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, ALT and GGT mean values. This time there was statistically significant difference in terms of mean insulin levels also, while the difference between the AST levels decreased.Discussion and Conclusion: Our study suggests that apparently healthy individuals also be examined for presence of NAFL disease because timely diagnosis and appropriate management could significantly help prevent complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.