Associations between hemoglobin concentrations and the development of incidental metabolic syndrome or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
Hemoglobin (Hb) is known to be associated with both nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome (MS). We evaluated the relationship between serum Hb levels and the development of MS or NAFLD.


METHODS
A retrospective cohort study was conducted. We recruited participants who underwent abdominal ultrasonography and blood samplings in both 2005 and 2010.


RESULTS
Graded independent relationships were observed between higher Hb levels and the incidence of MS and NAFLD. After adjusting for age, body mass index, and fasting glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels, the risk of developing MS was significantly higher according to the Hb quartiles in men (P for trend=0.027). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the highest Hb quartile was 1.81 (1.06-3.10) for women and 1.43 (1.00-2.05) for men. The risk of developing NAFLD was also significantly higher according to the Hb quartiles in men (P for trend=0.03). The adjusted OR and 95% CI for the highest Hb quartile was 1.18 (0.73-1.91) in women and 1.76 (1.16-2.66) in men.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of developing either MS or NAFLD was significantly associated with serum Hb levels in men. These findings have implications in the clinical availability of serum Hb as a predictor of MS and NAFLD.
Department of Internal Medicine, Healthcare Research Institute, Gangnam Healthcare Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Goh Eun
GE
Chung
Department of Internal Medicine, Healthcare Research Institute, Gangnam Healthcare Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: yjy@snuh.org.
Jeong Yoon
JY
Yim
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States.
Donghee
D
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Healthcare Research Institute, Gangnam Healthcare Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Min-Sun
MS
Kwak
Department of Internal Medicine, Healthcare Research Institute, Gangnam Healthcare Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Jong In
JI
Yang
Department of Internal Medicine, Healthcare Research Institute, Gangnam Healthcare Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Su Jin
SJ
Chung
Department of Internal Medicine, Healthcare Research Institute, Gangnam Healthcare Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Sun Young
SY
Yang
Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Joo Sung
JS
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D006454:Hemoglobins; D014280:Triglycerides
Hematocrit; Hepatic steatosis