title: Therapeutic Effect of Metformin on Chemerin in Non-Obese Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemerin is an important risk factor of insulin resistance. Non-alcoholic fatty liver has typical characteristics of insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to explore the potential role of chemerin in NAFLD.
  
  
  METHODS
  45 subjects included 22 control subjects (A group) and 23 subjects diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (B group) participated in the study. 23 patients in the NAFLD group received oral daily metformin at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day for 24 weeks follow-up. Chemerin and insulin resistance markers were determined at baseline and 24 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of WHR, BMI, FINS, HOMA-IR, TG, ALT, AST, and Chemerin in B group were significantly higher than A group. After 24 weeks of metformin treatment, the levels of WHR, AST, ALT, TG, chemerin and HOMA-IR were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) and other indexes were not changed significantly. Correlation analysis indicated that serum chemerin concentrations were positively correlated with BMI, WHR, HOMA-IR, FINS, TG, ALT, and AST levels. Logistic regression analysis showed chemerin, TG, and ALT were independent variables associated with NAFLD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings showed a significant increase of chemerin level in NAFLD patients. Metformin treatment can improve NAFLD and decrease the level of chemerin. Chemerin, TG, and ALT were independent variables associated with NAFLD.
authors.forename: Xianghua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Fudun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dongqing
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Aili
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Nengjun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fuchen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lou
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D020848:Chimerin 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000737:chemistry; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020848:Chimerin 1; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D008687:Metformin