Abstract
BackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently the major cause of chronic liver disease globally. Bile acids (BAs) have emerged as relevant signaling molecules that are associated with NAFLD development. This study was aimed to examine the association of serum total bile acids (TBAs) with NAFLD in a large population of Chinese subjects.MethodsThis cross sectional study recruited 152,336 participants from the Second Xiangya Hospital, China. NAFLD was diagnosed based on the presence of hepatic steatosis on ultrasonography, without significant alcohol consumption and other known causes for chronic liver disease. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to test for the association of serum TBAs with NAFLD, adjusting for conventional risk factors of NAFLD.ResultsA total of 27.4% of the participants had NAFLD. Patients with NAFLD had slightly higher TBA levels than those without, 3.4 vs. 3.0 μmol/L (p < 0.001). However, TBA levels were not associated with NAFLD in the multivariate logistic regression model, which adjusted for age, gender and other acknowledged risk factors for NAFLD (OR = 1.00. 95% CI: 1.00–1.00, p = 0.797).ConclusionsWe found that the serum TBA levels were not associated with NAFLD. Future studies in a large population, focusing on serum BA composition may improve the understating of the role of BAs in NAFLD.
Highlights
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently the major cause of chronic liver disease globally
NAFLD includes a broad clinical and histological spectrum ranging from simple hepatic steatosis (HS) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), with varying degrees of inflammation and fibrosis, which can progress to cirrhosis
The mean age and body mass index (BMI) of participants was 45 years old and 24.0 kg/m2, respectively, and 54.2% (82,533/152,336) were males. 27.4% (41,771/152,336) of individuals were diagnosed with NAFLD
Summary
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently the major cause of chronic liver disease globally. Bile acids (BAs) have emerged as relevant signaling molecules that are associated with NAFLD development. This study was aimed to examine the association of serum total bile acids (TBAs) with NAFLD in a large population of Chinese subjects. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and is currently the major cause of chronic liver disease globally [1,2,3]. The estimated prevalence of NAFLD worldwide is approximately 25% in the general population [4]. Bile acids (BAs) are amphipathic steroid acids that are derived from hepatic cholesterol catabolism in a series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions [10]. Postprandial contraction of the gallbladder releases BAs to the duodenum.
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