Predictive Factors for the Development or Regression of Fatty Liver in Japanese Adults

Abstract

Fatty liver is commonly associated with alcohol or metabolic syndrome. We aimed to examine the longitudinal aspects of fatty liver, and clarify the independent predictors for the development or regression of fatty liver. In the present study, the clinical features of 1578 Japanese adults (1208 men and 370 women; 35 to 69 years of age) who visited our center both in 2000 and 2007–2008 were recorded and compared, including liver status diagnosed by ultrasonography. Of the 1578 participants, 217 (13.8%) showed fatty liver development, and 74 (4.7%) showed fatty liver regression. Logistic regression analysis revealed that body mass index and percentage body fat were strongly associated with the development or regression of fatty liver. Metabolic syndrome-related disorders such as serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid, and fasting blood glucose were also associated with clinical course to some degree. However, the history of alcohol intake, the presence of metabolic syndrome, blood pressure, and habitual physical exercise were not independent predictors for the development or regression of fatty liver. Our present data suggest that control of body weight in men and the percentage body fat in women are particularly important for the prevention or treatment of fatty liver.

Epidemiologic Profile and Predictors of Fatty Liver: A Hospital-Based Study

“…Similar findings were reported in another study; where elevated total cholesterol level, triglycerides and LDL, and decreased HDL were significantly associated with higher degree of fatty liver, but only total cholesterol and triglycerides were the independent predictors [18]. Also, high total cholesterol and triglycerides were associated with the development of NAFLD [22].…”

“…Similarly findings were reported by other studies [18,19,20,21]. Contrary to that, other studies concluded that age was a non-significant predictor for fatty liver [22,23]. The discrepancy of age association with high prevalence of NAFLD as well as its complications may be attributed to the duration of disease rather than age.…”

“…Similarly, Fu and colleagues concluded that overweight and obese persons had a high probability to develop fatty liver than subjects with normal BMI [25]. On the contrary, a Japanese study found lower BMI among fatty liver patients [22]. This discrepancy may be due to demographic and dietary differences between Egyptian and Japanese population.…”

Obesity is an independent risk factor for non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease: evidence from a meta‐analysis of 21 cohort studies

“…Of 3,296 abstracts identified from initial search and 13 additional studies from scanning the results section of cohort studies focusing on other risk factors of NAFLD, 27 potentially relevant publications were retrieved for detailed assessment (Fig. ).…”

“…After full‐text evaluation, six articles were further excluded, including four studies for no usable data , and two for lack of adjusted risk estimates . Therefore, 21 cohort studies were included in the meta‐analysis . There were a total of 381,655 participants in the meta‐analysis.…”