Relationship between body mass index and alanine aminotransferase concentration in non-diabetic Korean adults

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Obesity has been identified as an important factor of elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a surrogate of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We investigated the relationship between obesity and elevated ALT in the general Korean population. Subjects/Methods: The study sample was comprised of 3098 Korean adults who had participated in the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Obesity was assessed using body mass index (BMI). Overweight (23pBMIo25) and obese (BMIX25) were defined by the International Obesity Task Force for Asian adults. ALT was measured by enzymatic methods. Elevated ALT was defined as an enzyme activity 440 IU/l for men and 431 IU/l for women. Results: Among participants, 246 (12.7%) men and 86 (7.4%) women displayed elevated ALT. BMI was significantly higher in men and women with elevated ALT than those with normal ALT (Po0.0001). The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for elevated ALT increased according to the degree of BMI in men (OR: 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25-2.93 in overweight vs OR: 5.01, 95% CI: 3.49-7.21 in obese; Po0.0001) and women (OR: 2.44, 95% CI: 1.24-4.82 vs OR: 3.94, 95% CI: 2.18-7.13; Po0.0001). This trend did not differ after adjustment for putative risk factors including alcohol intake in men (OR: 1.56 vs OR: 3.47, Po0.0001) and women (OR: 1.55 vs OR: 3.10, P ¼ 0.0015). Conclusion: BMI is implicated as a strong risk factor of elevated ALT in non-diabetic Korean adults.

Factors underlying the association of body mass index with serum ALT in Chinese hypertensive adults without known hepatic diseases

“…This is the first study to report on the role of traditional risk factors and folate status in the elevation of ALT concentration in Chinese hypertensive adults without known hepatic diseases. In agreement with previous studies (Salvaggio et al, 1991;Sull et al, 2009;Kim and Jo, 2010), there was a positive linear association between BMI and ALT concentration. However, following multivariate regression analysis, this association disappeared (P>0.05), while WC and folate concentration remained as significant predictors for ALT concentration.…”

“…High body mass index (BMI) is considered as the most important risk factor for elevated ALT concentration (Salvaggio et al, 1991;Sull et al, 2009;Kim and Jo, 2010). However, waist circumference (WC) is correlated with central fat, which provides a greater supply of potentially hepatotoxic fatty acids to the liver, and may be a stronger predictor for elevated ALT concentrations than BMI (Ruhl and Everhart, 2003).…”

A Rice-Based Traditional Dietary Pattern Is Associated with Obesity in Korean Adults

“…Height and body weight were measured as part of the health examination study (19). The participants were measured for height and weight wearing light clothes without shoes.…”

Association of human adenovirus-36 in overweight Korean adults

“…Overweight and obese were defined as 23pBMIo25 kg m À2 and BMIX25 kg m À2 , respectively, in accordance with the International Obesity Task Force definitions as described previously. 15 Blood pressure was measured as previously described. 13 Fasting glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoproteincholesterol (HDL-C) and other biomarkers were measured with a Hitachi-7600 analyzer (Hitachi Ltd, Tokyo, Japan).…”