title: Clinical and metabolic factors associated with development and regression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in nonobese subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The course of NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) and associated factors in nonobese subjects are not well established. We investigated contributing factors for the development and regression of NAFLD in nonobese Koreans, and whether they would differ from those of obese subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two thousand three hundred and seven adults aged over 18 years participated in this longitudinal observational study. The mean duration of follow-up was 28.7 (±13.2) months. The participants were divided into two groups according to the baseline BMI (nonobese group: BMI <25 kg/m(2), obese group: BMI ≥25 kg/m(2)). The presence or absence of NAFLD was assessed by abdominal ultrasonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body weight change was independently associated with both the development and regression of NAFLD in nonobese subjects as well as obese subjects. Among the subjects who developed NAFLD, the amount of weight change was higher in nonobese subjects compared to obese subjects (1.6 ± 3.9% vs 0.6 ± 4.2%, P = 0.022); and among those who showed regression of NAFLD, the amount of weight change was lower in nonobese subjects (-1.9 ± 4.0% vs -5.0 ± 4.6%, P < 0.001). Among all the components of metabolic syndrome, only high triglyceride levels (>150 mg/dl) at the baseline were significantly associated with both the development and regression of NAFLD in nonobese subjects (ORs, 1.54 (1.10-2.14), and 0.60 (0.38-0.96) respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Body weight change and baseline triglyceride levels were strong indicators for the development and regression of NAFLD in a nonobese population.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Nam Hoon
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joo Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yoon Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hye Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Hee Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Nan Hee
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Mook
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sei Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Baik
authors.forename: Dong Seop
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sin Gon
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D012044:Regression Analysis; D056910:Republic of Korea; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: hypertriglyceridaemia; metabolic syndrome; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; nonobese; weight loss