Association between alpha-fetoprotein and metabolic syndrome in a Chinese asymptomatic population: a cross-sectional study.
BACKGROUND
Metabolic syndrome is closely associated with an increased risk for fatty liver disease morbidity and mortality. Recently, studies have reported that participants with fatty liver disease have higher serum alpha-fetoprotein levels than those without. We investigated the association between alpha-fetoprotein levels and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a Chinese asymptomatic population.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed with 7,755 participants who underwent individual health examinations. Clinical and anthropometric parameters were collected and serum alpha-fetoprotein levels and other clinical and laboratory parameters were measured. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations between alpha-fetoprotein and metabolic syndrome.


RESULTS
Participants with metabolic syndrome had significantly higher (p < 0.001) alpha-fetoprotein levels than those without, though all alpha-fetoprotein levels were within the reference interval. The association between the components of metabolic syndrome (central obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated fasting plasma glucose) and alpha-fetoprotein levels was evaluated. Alpha-fetoprotein levels in the elevated triglycerides, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated fasting plasma glucose groups were significantly different (p=0.002, p < 0.001, p=0.020) compared with alpha-fetoprotein in the normal triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and fasting plasma glucose groups. Logistic regression analyses showed an association between alpha-fetoprotein levels and increased risk for metabolic syndrome, the presence of reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated fasting plasma glucose, but not with obesity, elevated blood pressure, or triglycerides.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest a significant association between alpha-fetoprotein and metabolic syndrome.
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Youdian Road #54, Hangzhou, 310006, China.
Yimin
Y
Chen
Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Qingchun Road #79, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
Ying
Y
Zhao
Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Qingchun Road #79, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
Linmin
L
Feng
Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Qingchun Road #79, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
Jie
J
Zhang
Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Qingchun Road #79, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
Juanwen
J
Zhang
The Affiliated Women's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Xueshi Road #1, Hangzhou, 310006, China. FBFGF2@126.com.
Guofang
G
Feng
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
C097353:AFP protein, human; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins
Alpha-fetoprotein; Fatty liver disease; Metabolic syndrome