title: Association of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Metabolic Syndrome Independently of Central Obesity and Insulin Resistance.
abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging chronic liver disease that may lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to determine the association between the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and NAFLD severity using semi-quantitative ultrasonography (US). A total of 614 participants were recruited from the community. NAFLD was evaluated according to the ultrasonographic Fatty Liver Indicator (US-FLI), which is a semi-quantitative liver ultrasound score. Insulin resistance was estimated with the homeostasis model assessment index for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). NAFLD and MetS were found in 53.7 and 17.3% of the participants, respectively. Linear relationships were found between the severity of NAFLD and waist circumference, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, HDL-C and blood pressure. After adjusting for confounding factors, i.e., body mass index and HOMA-IR, the odds ratios for MetS were 3.64 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5-8.83) for those with mild NAFLD and 9.4 (95% CI: 3.54-24.98) for those with moderate-to-severe NAFLD compared to those without NAFLD. The combination of the HOMA-IR and US-FLI scores better differentiated MetS than the HOMA-IR alone. In addition to obesity, the severity of NAFLD and the HOMA-IR both play important roles in MetS. Whether NAFLD is a component of MetS warrants further research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu City, Taiwan.|Department of Family Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuen Cheh
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu City, Taiwan.|Department of Family Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hui-Fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hao-Hsiang
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Long-Teng
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Family Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Bei-Hu Branch, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo-Chin
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides