Liver function test changes in centrally obese youth with metabolic syndrome in a Serbian population.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between metabolic syndrome and liver enzymes in overweight and obese adolescents and young adults.


METHODS
A total of 126 overweight and obese adolescents and young adults (age, 15-26 years), 55 (43.6%) with metabolic syndrome and 71 (56.4%) without metabolic syndrome, were studied.


RESULTS
Patients with metabolic syndrome had significantly higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels compared to patients without metabolic syndrome [36.5±22.2 vs. 29.4±17.8 IU/L (P=0.043), 33.8±17.8 vs. 26.9±18.4 IU/L (P=0.002), and 84.3±32.2 vs. 75.7±29.5 IU/L (P=0.063)]. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were similar in both groups (24.1±9.8 vs. 23.3±9.0 IU/L, P=0.674). Elevated AST, ALT, GGT, and ALP levels were observed in 6, 15, 18, and 5 patients (11%, 27%, 14%, and 9%) with metabolic syndrome compared to 6, 17, 6, and 4 (8%, 24%, 8% and 5%) patients without metabolic syndrome (P=0.872, P=0.826, P<0.001, and P=0.035). In multivariate regression models adjusted for age and gender, metabolic syndrome was not a significant predictor of ALT (P=0.967), GGT (P=0.526), and ALP levels (P=0.221), but insulin resistance was a significant predictor for ALT and GGT levels (P=0.001, P=0.028).


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in liver function tests were observed in obese patients with metabolic syndrome, compared to patients without metabolic syndrome, especially in ALT and GGT levels. Insulin resistance is an independent pathogenic mechanism in liver function test changes regardless of metabolic syndrome in nondiabetic centrally obese youth.
1 Institute of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Disorders, University of Belgrade , Belgrade, Serbia .
Vesna
V
Dimitrijevic-Sreckovic
Ivan
I
Soldatovic
Djordje
D
Culafic
Branko
B
Sreckovic
Srdjan
S
Popovic
Predrag
P
Djordjevic
Tatjana
T
Ille
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D050177:Overweight; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055771:Serbia; D055815:Young Adult; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase