title: Serum alanine aminotransferase independently correlates with intrahepatic triglyceride contents in obese subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Liver enzymes including serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) are well recognized as surrogate makers reflecting non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the associations of serum ALT, AST and GGT with hepatic lipid contents are not well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between liver enzymes and intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) contents, and explore the feasibility in using liver enzymes to reflect accumulation of IHTG in obese subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 475 obese adults aged 40-65 years. Anthropometric parameters and blood biochemical indexes including liver enzymes, glucose and lipid profiles were measured. The liver triglyceride contents of subjects were determined by (1)H-MRS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum ALT, AST and GGT were positively correlated with IHTG contents (p < 0.01). Serum ALT, AST and GGT levels at the highest quartile of IHTG contents were significantly elevated as compared with those in the lowest quartile (p < 0.01). Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that serum ALT, but not AST or GGT was independently associated with IHTG contents. By logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio for higher IHTG contents was increased by 1.464 times/1 SD increase in serum ALT level after adjusting for multiple confounding factors [OR (95% CI) 2.464 (1.584-3.834)]. However, these relationships could not be observed between serum AST or GGT with IHTG contents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum ALT level is independently correlated with the hepatic triglyceride contents in obese subjects and more appropriate to be used as a predictor for the degree of NAFLD rather than AST and GGT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Xiamen Diabetes Institute, The First Hospital of Xiamen, Xiamen University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, 361003, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cheng-Kun
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Ling-Ling
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Hui-Jie
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-Min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Zhu-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiong-Jie
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Zhi-Bin
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xue-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shu-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase