title: Alanine aminotransferase as a marker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease.
abstract: For a long time, hepatic steatosis was believed to be a benign condition. Only recently, liver steatosis, also termed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), has gained much interest. In most cases of NAFLD, a condition regarded as the hepatic component of the metabolic syndrome, the enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is elevated and consequently has been used as a marker for NAFLD. More recently, several cross-sectional and prospective studies have demonstrated associations of this liver enzyme with features of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This review discusses the biochemical and metabolic properties of ALT, its applicability as a marker of NAFLD and describes its possible role in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus and subsequent cardiovascular disease. In addition, treatment strategies to ameliorate NAFLD and the associated risks are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology/Diabetes Centre, VU University Medical Centre, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. rk.schindhelm@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Roger K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Schindhelm
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diamant
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.forename: Maarten E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Tushuizen
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teerlink
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Heine
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000201:enzymology; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000410:Alanine Transaminase