Association between Serum Uric Acid and Elevated Alanine Aminotransferase in the General Population.

Shuang Chen,Shasha Yu,Yingxian Sun,Xiaofan Guo,Guozhe Sun,Hongmei Yang,Zhao Li

doi:10.3390/ijerph13090841

Abstract

Background: Both the serum uric acid (SUA) level and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) are related to metabolic syndrome. However, the association between SUA and elevated ALT has not been elucidated in the general population. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between SUA and elevated ALT in the general population of China; Methods: A total of 11,572 adults (≥35 years of age) participated in this survey. Elevated ALT was defined as >40 U/L. SUA ≥ 7.0 mg/dL in males or ≥6.0 mg/dL in females was defined as hyperuricemia. SUA within the reference range was divided into quartiles, and its associations with elevated ALT were evaluated by logistic regressions; Results: A total of 7.4% participants had elevated ALT. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 14.9% in males and 7.3% in females. There was a significantly positive dose-response association between SUA levels and the prevalence of elevated ALT. After adjusting for potential confounders, a positive relationship for elevated ALT was observed in subjects with hyperuricemia (odds ratio [OR]: 2.032, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.443–2.861 for men; OR: 2.045, 95% CI: 1.221–3.425 for women, both p < 0.05). Within the reference range, the association between SUA and elevated ALT persisted in the fourth quartile (OR: 1.467, 95% CI: 1.063–2.025 for men; OR: 1.721, 95% CI: 1.146–2.585 for women, both p < 0.05); Conclusions: Our results indicated that an increased SUA level, even within the reference range, was independently associated with elevated ALT in Chinese adults.

Highlights

Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a common liver enzyme of liver function tests and a sensitive indicator of hepatocyte injury [1,2,3]
After adjusting for potential confounders, a positive relationship for elevated ALT was observed in subjects with hyperuricemia
The association between serum uric acid (SUA) and elevated ALT persisted in the fourth quartile (OR: 1.467, 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 1.063–2.025 for men; odds ratios (ORs): 1.721, 95% CI: 1.146–2.585 for women, both p < 0.05); Conclusions: Our results indicated that an increased SUA level, even within the reference range, was independently associated with elevated ALT in Chinese adults

Summary

Introduction

Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a common liver enzyme of liver function tests and a sensitive indicator of hepatocyte injury [1,2,3]. It has been reported that elevated ALT is related to a range of health outcomes, such as metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) [4]. Because ALT is closely associated with fatty deposition in the hepatocytes, it is commonly considered as a surrogate marker for NAFLD in some epidemiological studies [5,6]. NAFLD is considered to be a hepatic consequence of metabolic diseases [8,9,10] Both the serum uric acid (SUA) level and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) are related to metabolic syndrome. The association between SUA and elevated ALT has not been elucidated in the general population. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between SUA and elevated ALT in the general population of China; Methods:. SUA within the reference range was divided into quartiles, and its associations with elevated ALT were evaluated by logistic regressions; Results: A total of 7.4% participants had elevated ALT

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion