title: High ambulatory blood pressure values associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver in middle-aged adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nonalcoholic fatty liver and hypertension are associated with metabolic syndrome. Both conditions increase the risk for cardiovascular morbidity. The objective of this study was to analyze whether 24-h blood pressure (BP) levels and nondipping phenomenon associate with hepatic steatosis defined as liver brightness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four hour ambulatory BP measurement (ABPM) and liver brightness were investigated in a population-based cohort of 890 hypertensive (n = 433) and normotensive (n = 457) individuals aged 40-60 years. ABPM was recorded using the fully automatic SpaceLabs90207 oscillometric unit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fatty liver was associated with male sex, increased alcohol consumption, high BMI, large waist (P < 0.001 for all) and increased prevalence of smoking (P < 0.03). Values of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), triglycerides and high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) were higher and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol lower (P < 0.001 for all) in individuals with fatty liver. After adjustments for BMI, sex and age, fatty liver was associated with 24-h (P < 0.005), daytime (P < 0.02) and night-time (P < 0.005) SBP measurements and DBP at daytime (P < 0.03). The association with nondipping showed only a trend (P = 0.057).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significantly higher ambulatory daytime and night-time SBP levels were seen in individuals with fatty liver. Nondipping does not seem to associate with liver fat. The coexistence of liver fat accumulation and high BP are likely to potentiate the risk for cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Biocenter Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Riitta-Liisa
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Vasunta
authors.forename: Y Antero
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Kesäniemi
authors.forename: Antti S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ylitalo
authors.forename: Olavi H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Ukkola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase