title: Association between serum α-L-fucosidase and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the association between serum α-L-fucosidase (AFU) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 16473 individuals (9456 men and 7017 women) were included in the current study, who presented for a health examination at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine in 2014. The baseline characteristics of the cohort were compared by NAFLD status. Linear regression analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis were applied to assess the risk factors for NAFLD. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of AFU in the diagnosis of NAFLD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence rates of NAFLD and metabolic syndrome (MetS) were 38.0% and 25.4%, respectively. The NAFLD group had significantly higher AFU levels than the non-NAFLD group (28.7 ± 7.9 U/L vs 26.0 ± 7.3 U/L, P < 0.001) and the prevalence rate of NAFLD increased with progressively higher serum AFU levels. AFU was positively correlated with MetS and its five components: central obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure and fasting glucose. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis showed that AFU was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD (OR = 1.009, 95%CI: 1.003-1.014, P < 0.001). The best cut-off value of AFU for the diagnosis of NAFLD was 27.5 U/L. The area under the curve (diagnostic efficacy index) was 0.606. The sensitivity and specificity were 54.6% and 61.8%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AFU level is significantly associated with NAFLD, and elevated AFU level is an independent risk factor for NAFLD.
authors: Zhen-Ya Lu, Department of Internal Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Zhen-Ya
authors: ZY
authors: Lu
authors: Zhen-Ya Lu, Department of Internal Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Chao
authors: C
authors: Cen
authors: Zhen-Ya Lu, Department of Internal Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Zhou
authors: Z
authors: Shao
authors: Zhen-Ya Lu, Department of Internal Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Xin-Hua
authors: XH
authors: Chen
authors: Zhen-Ya Lu, Department of Internal Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: Cheng-Fu
authors: CF
authors: Xu
authors: Zhen-Ya Lu, Department of Internal Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors: You-Ming
authors: YM
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation; D005644:alpha-L-Fucosidase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005644:alpha-L-Fucosidase
keywords: Biomarker; Cross-sectional study; Metabolic syndrome; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; α-L-fucosidase