The role of serum retinol in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Background Retinol has been involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism and hepatic steatosis. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) have emerged as the most common chronic liver diseases. A minority of affected patients develop subsequently hepatic fibrosis, whereas most of them exhibit simple steatosis. Indeed, the relation between retinol and NAFLD and NASH is still incomplete and unknown. Objective This study aimed to identify the clinical relevance of retinol in patients with NAFLD and NASH. Patients and methods This study enrolled 90 individuals who were selected from the outpatient clinic of Al Zahraa University Hospital, Egypt, which comprised 30 patients with NAFLD, 30 with NASH and 30 healthy persons as a control group. Serum glucose, lipid profiles, markers of liver damage, serum retinol, and abdominal ultrasound were studied. Results Serum retinol concentrations were significantly lower in NAFLD and NASH than in control, where the mean serum retinol concentration in patients with NAFLD was 23.02±2.9 and NASH was 11.7±2.3, and it was significantly lower than those in controls, with 36.1±2.7 (P<0.01). Conclusion Circulating retinol concentrations were lower in patients with NAFLD and were associated with hepatic lipid metabolism and insulin resistance.