title: The association of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome in a Chinese population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with features of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between NAFLD and metabolic syndrome in a Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from subjects were retrospectively collected from 2006 to 2009. The exclusion criteria included significant consumption of alcohol and chronic hepatitis B and C. The patients were assigned to two groups according to ultrasound findings: normal group and fatty liver group. The liver function of patients was determined by assessing serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed based on the 2005 International Diabetes Federation criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 7568 subjects were enrolled and 5736 (75.8%) and 1832 (24.2%) patients were assigned to the normal and fatty liver groups, respectively. The fatty liver group had significant male predominance (69.7% vs 56.0%), higher body mass index (mean, 26.67 vs 23.55 kg/m2) compared with the normal group. There were 441 (7.7%) and 377 (20.6%) cases with metabolic syndrome in the normal and fatty liver groups, respectively, with significant difference (P=0.001), and the subgroup of 385 cases with fatty liver and elevated ALT had higher prevalence (28.8%) of metabolic syndrome. The strongest association of an individual component of metabolic syndrome with NAFLD was hyperlipidemia (adjusted OR=2.55, 95% CI: 2.22-2.94).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The individuals with NAFLD had a higher ratio of metabolic syndrome. Hyperlipidemia had the strongest positive association with NAFLD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, China. ericest@vghtc.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Shou-Wu
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Teng-Yu
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sheng-Shun
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yen-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Hong-Zen
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Chi-Sen
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D000410:Alanine Transaminase