Serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein levels are associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetic patients.
OBJECTIVE
Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) is a major cytoplasmic protein in adipocytes and macrophages and is closely associated with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Here, we investigated whether A-FABP was associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
We enrolled 181 type 2 diabetic patients. Clinical and biochemical metabolic parameters were measured. The severity of NAFLD was measured by ultrasound. A-FABP, adiponectin, and retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
A-FABP levels, defined as more than a moderate degree of fatty liver compared with men, those without metabolic syndrome, and those without NAFLD, were higher in women, patients with metabolic syndrome, and patients with overt NAFLD, respectively. Adiponectin was decreased according to the severity of NAFLD, but RBP-4 showed no difference. Age- and sex-adjusted A-FABP showed positive correlations with BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference, triglycerides, gamma-glutamyltransferase, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), A1C, and C-reactive protein (CRP) but showed negative correlation with HDL cholesterol. The odds ratio (OR) for the risk of overt NAFLD with increasing levels of sex-specific A-FABP was significantly increased (OR 2.90 [95% CI 1.15-7.29] vs. 7.87 [3.20-19.38]). The OR in the highest tertile of A-FABP remained significant after adjustments for BMI, waist circumference, A1C, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, HOMA-IR, CRP, and hepatic enzymes.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrates that serum A-FABP is significantly associated with NAFLD in type 2 diabetes, independent of BMI, waist circumference, HOMA-IR, A1C, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and CRP.
Health Promotion Center, Samsung Seoul Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jang Hyun
JH
Koh
Young Goo
YG
Shin
Soo Min
SM
Nam
Mi Young
MY
Lee
Choon Hee
CH
Chung
Jang Yel
JY
Shin
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000502:physiology; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; C493410:FABP4 protein, human; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins