title: Association of proinsulin and hepatic steatosis in a random, population-based sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Proinsulin may represent a predictive marker for assessing insulin resistance and reduced β-cell function. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between hepatic steatosis, proinsulin and other parameters in a random, population-based sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study, conducted in south-western Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  Upper abdominal ultrasound examinations were performed in 343 subjects (147 females, 196 males; average age 40.0±11.5 years). Proinsulin, the proinsulin-to-insulin ratio and other laboratory parameters were determined, and the BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and other anthropometric data were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HEPATIC STEATOSIS WAS OBSERVED IN 80 SUBJECTS (23.3%: 29.6%, males; 15.0%, females). Multivariate analysis showed an association with hepatic steatosis for male gender (P=0.0212), advancing age (P=0.0241), elevated BMI (P<0.0001), elevated WHR (P=0.0024), alanine aminotransferase (P=0.0046), proinsulin (P=0.0403) and proinsulin-to-insulin ratio (P=0.0116).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an association between elevated proinsulin concentrations and hepatic steatosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, D-89081 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wengert
authors.forename: Suemeyra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oeztuerk
authors.forename: Mark Martin
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Haenle
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imhof
authors.forename: Bernhard Otto
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
authors.forename: Ren
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Richard Andrew
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kratzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011384:Proinsulin / Q000097:blood*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011384:Proinsulin