Relation between alanine aminotransferase concentrations and visceral fat accumulation among nondiabetic overweight Korean women.
BACKGROUND
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is used as a surrogate marker for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is frequently observed among obese subjects. Reported data were scanty about the relation between ALT concentrations and visceral fat accumulation measured by computed tomographic (CT) scanning in a large sample.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the association between ALT concentrations and visceral fat accumulation measured by CT scanning, among nondiabetic overweight Korean women.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed in 903 nondiabetic overweight [body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) > or = 25] Korean women aged 20-80 y. The area of abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was measured by CT scan. Anthropometric and cardiometabolic variables were measured.


RESULTS
Elevated ALT (> 40 IU/L) concentrations were found in 14.9% of the subjects. ALT concentrations were significantly correlated with all anthropometric and cardiometabolic variables after adjustment for age and alcohol consumption (P < 0.05). The adjusted odds ratios for elevated ALT concentrations according to the quartiles of VAT were 1.51 (95% CI: 0.83, 2.76), 3.16 (95% CI: 1.55, 6.49), and 15.15 (95% CI: 4.57, 50.00) in the second (76.9-102.6 cm(2)), the third (102.7-135.0 cm(2)), and the fourth (135.1-382.7 cm(2)) quartiles, respectively, compared with the first quartile (23.0-76.8 cm(2)) (P for trend < 0.001). In the multiple linear regression model, the VAT was significantly positively associated with ALT concentrations (standardized beta = 0.206, P < 0.001), whereas the regression coefficients of other anthropometric and cardiometabolic variables were not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
ALT concentrations have a strong association with visceral fat accumulation, and VAT is the main predictor of elevated ALT concentrations in the context of NAFLD among nondiabetic overweight Korean women.
Song
Hye Ryoung
HR
Department of Family Medicine, Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea.
Yun
Kyung Eun
KE
Park
Hye Soon
HS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D007723:Korea; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
D015415:Biomarkers; D000410:Alanine Transaminase