Association of free fatty acid with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and carotid artery intima-media thickness

Abstract

Objective To study the relationship of free fatty acid (FFA) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).Methods Four hundred and two male individuals with complete data on questionnaire,physical examination,blood pressure,plasma glucose,lipid profiles,and FFA underwent liver ultrasound scan and carotid ultrasound scan were divided into four groups according to fasting FFA quartile.NAFLD was diagnosed according to NAFLD clinic guide (2010) and metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the Guideline on Prevention and Treatment of Blood Lipid Abnormality in Chinese Adults (2007).Results (1) Compared with non-NAFLD group,subjects in NAFLD group had significantly higher body mass index,waist circumference,blood pressure,fasting plasma glucose,and 2 h postprandial glucose,total cholesterol,triglycerides,low density lipoprotein-cholesterol,liver enzymes,fasting insulin,2 h postprandial insulin,homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR),CIMT,fasting and 2 h postprandial FFA (all P＜0.05),while the level of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol was decreased(P＜0.01).(2) Compared with those in the lowest quartiles of fasting FFA,subjects in the highest quartile had significantly higher level of systolic blood pressure,fasting plasma glucose,2 h postprandial glucose,total cholesterol,triglycerides,liver enzymes,2 h postprandial insulin,2 h postprandial FFA (all P ＜ 0.05),and frequency of NAFLD was also increased (P ＜0.01).(3)Logistic regression analysis showed that fasting FFA,HOMA-IR,body mass index,and alanine aminotransferase were independently correlated with N AFLD after adjustment of other parameters (β =0.001,0.253,0.312,0.043,respectively,all P＜0.05).Conclusions Fasting FFA was independently and positively associated with NAFLD.CIMT level was higher in patients with NAFLD. Key words: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease ; Free fatty acid ; Carotid intima-media thickness