The association between normal alanine aminotransferase levels and the metabolic syndrome: 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
The metabolic syndrome is known to sometimes exist in the presence of normal aminotransferase levels. The purpose of this study was to determine the lowest sex-specific level of alanine aminotransferase associated with the metabolic syndrome in a nationwide, representative Korean population. We analyzed data from adults 20 years and older (n = 3405) assessed in the Third Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005). Participants were divided into 4 groups according to the quartiles of alanine aminotransferase levels for each sex. Logistic regression modeling was performed after adjustment for age, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, ingested alcohol amount, and physical activity. Alanine aminotransferase level groups 3 and 4 in women (> or =15 IU/L) and group 4 in men (> or =27 IU/L) were significantly associated with the metabolic syndrome compared with the lowest alanine aminotransferase groups (<16 IU/L in men, <11 IU/L in women). In men, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of the metabolic syndrome was 2.71 (1.31-5.63) for alanine aminotransferase group 4 (> or =27 IU/L). In women, odds ratios were 1.69 (1.02-2.80) and 2.06 (1.23-3.43) for alanine aminotransferase groups 3 (15 < or = alanine aminotransferase < 19 IU/L) and 4 (> or =19 IU/L), respectively. High-normal alanine aminotransferase levels (> or =27 IU/L in men, > or =15 IU/L in women) were strongly associated with the metabolic syndrome in Korean adults.
Suh
Sang-Yeon
SY
Department of Family Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 410-773, Korea. lisasuhmd@hotmail.com
Choi
Sung-Eun
SE
Ahn
Hong-Yup
HY
Yang
Hye-Min
HM
Kim
Yu-Il
YI
Sung
Nak-Jin
NJ
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D000410:Alanine Transaminase