Leptin in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
BACKGROUND
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent condition associated with obesity and insulin resistance (IR). Leptin plays a key role in the control of energy balance, and insulin sensitivity. In this study, we aimed to examine whether serum leptin levels correlate with insulin resistance, oxidative stress parameters and the severity of histological changes in NAFLD.


METHODS
Fifty-two patients (M/F: 28/24) with no alcohol intake and biopsy-proven diagnosis of NAFLD were studied. Serum leptin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. HOMA (homeostasis model assessment) IR index was calculated. Comparisons between the patients with NAFLD and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) were performed using the Student's t test. Multivariate regression analysis and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to identify the independent predictors for NASH.


RESULTS
We found no association between serum leptin, fasting insulin levels, and oxidative stress parameters. ROC curve and multiple regression analysis revealed no association between the severity of histological changes and serum leptin levels. During six months followed-up period only NASH group with elevated leptin levels had significant reductions of ALT and AST values (p = 0.03, and 0.005, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show a preventive effect of leptin against progressive liver injury in NAFLD.
Canbakan
Billur
B
Istanbul Science University, Avrupa Florence Nightingale Hospital Research Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Istanbul, Turkey.
Tahan
Veysel
V
Balci
Huriye
H
Hatemi
Ibrahim
I
Erer
Burak
B
Ozbay
Gulsen
G
Sut
Necdet
N
Hacibekiroglu
Munire
M
Imeryuz
Nese
N
Senturk
Hakan
H