title: Plasma osteoprotegerin levels are inversely associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: A case-control study in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a soluble member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily, is a decoy receptor for the receptor activator of nucleus factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). OPG has an effect on systemic insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between plasma osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in patients with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was performed with 746 patients with type 2 diabetes. Of the study population, 367 patients had B-mode ultrasound-proven NAFLD and 379 were controls. The plasma OPG levels were measured using ELISA methods. NAFLD was diagnosed by hepatic ultrasound after the exclusion of alcohol abuse and other liver diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The OPG levels were significantly decreased in patients with NAFLD (2.3±1.1μg/L vs. 2.8±1.3μg/L, p=3.75×10(5)) compared to controls. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the OPG levels were associated with age and systolic blood pressure (both p<0.05). The participants in the lowest OPG quartile had a significantly increased risk for NAFLD (OR=3.49, 95% CI 1.86-6.94) after adjusting for potential cofounders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The plasma OPG level is negatively associated with NAFLD independent of potential cofounders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yixin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: yangzhen1020@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Suijun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Houguang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Digestion and Nutrition, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jiangao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: suqingxinhua@163.com.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D053244:Osteoprotegerin; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human
keywords: Insulin resistance; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Osteoprotegerin; Type 2 diabetes