Glucose intolerance and serum aminotransferase activities in Japanese men.
OBJECTIVE
Elevated activities of serum aminotransferase are commonly observed in patients with diabetes mellitus. Few studies have addressed the relation between glucose intolerance and serum activities of aminotransferase in free-living populations.


METHODS
Using a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, we examined the association of impaired fasting glycemia (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and type 2 diabetes mellitus with serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) among 4621 men aged 49-59 years of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Statistical adjustment was made for body mass index, waist-hip ratio, and other possible confounding factors.


RESULTS
Proportions of an elevated ALT (>50 IU/l) in men with normal glucose tolerance, IFG, IGT, and newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus were 3.5%, 9.5%, 7.7%, and 18.0%, respectively. Adjusted odds ratios of an elevated ALT for IFG, IGT, and newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus were 2.2 (95% confidence interval 1.1-4.3), 1.7 (1.2-2.4), and 4.4 (3.0-6.6), respectively. IGT and diabetes mellitus were also significantly positively associated with elevated AST (>40 IU/l) and GGT (>50 IU/l).


CONCLUSIONS
Glucose intolerance is associated with elevated serum aminotransferase independent of obesity, but even a mildly elevated ALT is relatively uncommon in free-living men with glucose intolerance.
Miyake
Yumi
Y
Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Eguchi
Hiroyuki
H
Shinchi
Koichi
K
Oda
Takashi
T
Sasazuki
Shizuka
S
Kono
Suminori
S
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D044466:Asian People; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D018149:Glucose Intolerance; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase