Body fat distribution and insulin resistance: beyond obesity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease among overweight men.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and body fat distribution and insulin resistance in a sample of non-diabetic overweight men.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 117 overweight men with NAFLD, as well as 117 controls, who were matched with regard to age and body mass index. None of the study subjects exhibited signs of alcohol abuse, hepatitis B or C, diabetes or fasting hyperglycemia, or hypertension. The diagnosis of NAFLD was based on dual findings of elevated alanine aminotransferase levels and sonographically-determined fatty liver. Body fat distribution was assessed via bioelectrical impedance. Insulin resistance was evaluated via homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR).


RESULTS
The risk of developing NAFLD was found to be profoundly associated with elevated measurements of waist circumference, fat mass, percentage of body fat and abdominal fat, iron, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B, and results of HOMA-IR. Multivariate analysis revealed that NAFLD was significantly associated with elevated measurements of waist circumference, iron, apolipoprotein B, and HOMA-IR.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study provides evidence for a profound and dose-dependent association of NAFLD with central adiposity, insulin resistance in overweight men lacking complications of metabolic syndrome. Overweight subjects with insulin resistance or central adiposity were at more risk of NAFLD than were those subjects with less insulin resistance or central adiposity, even those with a similar degree of obesity.
Park
Seung Ha
SH
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, 108 Pyung-Dong, Jongro-Ku, Seoul 110-746, Korea.
Kim
Byung Ik
BI
Kim
Sang Hoon
SH
Kim
Hong Joo
HJ
Park
Dong Il
DI
Cho
Yong Kyun
YK
Sung
In Kyung
IK
Sohn
Chong Il
CI
Kim
Hyang
H
Keum
Dong Keuk
DK
Kim
Heung Dae
HD
Park
Jung Ho
JH
Kang
Jin Ho
JH
Jeon
Woo Kyu
WK
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio