title: Carbohydrate but not fat is associated with elevated aminotransferases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, many studies reported that high carbohydrate and simple sugar intake increase a risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome significantly.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of carbohydrate on aminotransferase levels in Korea, where the proportion of carbohydrate in meals is extremely high but fat is low.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the data of Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES). A total of 19 749 people were included. Amounts and types of consumed foods were examined by the 24 h recall method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean carbohydrate and fat proportions in total energy intake were 67.7% and 17.4%, respectively. Aminotransferase activity increased according to the rise of the proportion of carbohydrate in the energy intake. A high carbohydrate intake (>70% of energy) was associated with abnormal aminotransferase activity and metabolic syndrome. After adjusting for covariates, such as age, energy intake and body mass index, abnormal aminotransferase activity was significantly associated with carbohydrate proportion. There was a negative correlation between fat proportion in the total energy intake and aminotransferase activity (P < 0.01). The relation between aminotransferase activity and carbohydrate composition showed a J-shaped curve. The lowest point (the J point) was located at 50-60% carbohydrate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportion of carbohydrate in energy intake but not fat is positively correlated with abnormal aminotransferase activity in Koreans. This finding may be useful in planning a strategy of nutrition education for NAFLD in countries where the proportion of carbohydrate in most meals is extremely high.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: O W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: O Y
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology; D056910:Republic of Korea; D000637:Transaminases / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D000637:Transaminases