Association Between Hepatic Steatosis and Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

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ObjectivesEvaluate the association between the degree of hepatic steatosis and the development of metabolic syndrome in outpatients care. MethodsProspective cross-sectional study with outpatients care at the Gastroenterology Service of a hospital in southern Brazil. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee with protocol 57,328,416.8.0000.5335. Patients aged over 18 years and with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were included. Patients were excluded from hepatitis B and C, with significant alcohol consumption and hepatocellular carcinoma. Data collection occurred during nutritional consultations, where we collected data of age, gender, lifestyle, diagnosis of comorbidities and biochemical tests. The result of liver biopsy was evaluated for the degree of hepatic steatosis. Anthropometric parameters were assessed for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, in addition to electrical bioimpedance for body composition. Data were presented as mean, median, standard deviation, interquartile range and percentages according to distribution. Student T, ANOVA and Pearson correlation tests were applied. The significance level was 5%. ResultsWe evaluated 71 patients with mean age 59.08 ± 8.92 years, 67.6% (n = 48) women, 60.6% (n = 43) sedentary, 52.2% (n = 37) no smoking and mean body mass index of 32.91 ± 5.27 kg/m2. Systemic arterial hypertension were diagnosed in 80.3% (n = 57), 73.2% (n = 52) were diabetic, 66.2% (n = 47) were dyslipidemic and 28.2% (n = 20) of patients with metabolic syndrome. As liver biopsy, 25.4% (n = 18) mild steatosis, 23.9% (n = 17) moderate and 26.8% (n = 19) intense. In the comparison between the levels of hepatic steatosis and the variables, it was observed that patients with severe steatosis had metabolic syndrome (p = 0.041). Patients with metabolic syndrome have higher fat mass (p = 0.044), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.019) and higher levels of serum triglycerides (p = 0.043). Severe hepatic steatosis correlated with the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (r = 0.319; p = 0.019). ConclusionsSevere hepatic steatosis is related to the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.Patients with metabolic syndrome had a higher amount of fat mass, increased diastolic blood pressure and serum triglycerides. Funding SourcesThis study was not funded.