Weight gain within the normal weight range predicts ultrasonographically detected fatty liver in healthy Korean men.
OBJECTIVE
We performed a prospective study to determine whether weight gain predicts future ultrasonographically detected fatty liver (USFL) in a lean adult population.


METHODS
Among 15,347 Korean male workers, aged 30-59 years, who participated in a health check-up programme in 2002, a USFL-free cohort of 4246 non-diabetic men was followed until September 2007. Alcohol consumption was assessed by a questionnaire. Weight change for each subject was calculated as the difference between baseline and subsequent measurements. Biochemical tests for liver and metabolic function were done. The primary outcome was ultrasound-diagnosed fatty liver. A standard Cox proportional hazards model and time-dependent Cox model were performed.


RESULTS
During 16,829.7 person-years of follow-up, 622 participants developed USFL. After adjusting for age, the period from visit 1 to visit 2, BMI, HDL-C, triglyceride, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase, and HOMA-IR, the risk for USFL increased with increasing quartiles of weight change (p for trend <0.001). This association remained significant when weight change and covariates, except age and the period from visit 1 to visit 2, were modelled as time-dependent variables. Subjects in the fourth quartile (weight gain > or =2.3 kg) were at significantly elevated risk for USFL (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 1.26; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.58). These associations did not change, even in normal weight men with a baseline BMI between 18.5 and 22.9 kg/m(2) (n = 2186).


CONCLUSIONS
Weight gain per se appears to increase the risk for developing USFL. Thus, avoiding weight gain, even among lean adult individuals, can be helpful in preventing this disease.
Chang
Y
Y
Department of Occupational Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, 108 Pyung dong, Jongro-Gu, Seoul, Korea 110-746.
Ryu
S
S
Sung
E
E
Woo
H-Y
HY
Cho
S-I
SI
Yoo
S-H
SH
Ahn
H-Y
HY
Choi
N-K
NK
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*