Visceral obesity and hypoadiponectinemia are significant determinants of hepatic dysfunction: An epidemiologic study of 3827 Japanese subjects.
OBJECTIVE
Adiponectin is an anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing adipocytokine, and its serum concentrations are reduced in obesity with visceral fat accumulation. Visceral fat accumulation is an independent determinant of elevated serum liver enzymes. Hypoadiponectinemia plays important roles in the clinical progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between visceral fat area (VFA), serum adiponectin concentration, and biochemical liver tests, such as aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) in normal subjects.


METHODS
The study group comprised 3827 Japanese subjects [mean age+/-SD; 47.6+/-10.7 y: 2854 males (48.4+/-10.7 y), 973 females (45.3+/-10.1 y)], who underwent annual health checkup in 2004. In addition to parameters measured in the annual health checkup, VFA and serum adiponectin concentration were measured by the bioelectrical impedance analysis method and a latex particle-enhanced turbidimetric assay system, respectively.


RESULTS
Pearson's correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between VFA and the levels of the above 3 liver enzymes in both sexes, and a significant negative correlation between adiponectin and all biochemical liver tests in men and with ALT and GGT in women. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that VFA was a significant determinant of serum liver tests in both sexes. Moreover, serum adiponectin concentration significantly and negatively influenced male ALT and GGT and female GGT.


CONCLUSIONS
Both visceral obesity and hypoadiponectinemia are significant determinants of subtle and asymptomatic hepatic dysfunction in normal Japanese subjects.
Kamada
Yoshihiro
Y
Departments of Gastroenterology, Osaka University, Suita, Japan. ykamada@gh.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Nakamura
Tadashi
T
Funahashi
Tohru
T
Ryo
Miwa
M
Nishizawa
Hitoshi
H
Okauchi
Yukiyoshi
Y
Fukushima
Juichi
J
Yoshida
Yuichi
Y
Kiso
Shinichi
S
Shimomura
Iichiro
I
Hayashi
Norio
N
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry / Q000379:methods; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D052242:Adiponectin; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase