Risk factors and metabolic abnormality of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Either non-obese or obese Chinese population

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs not only in obese individuals but also in non-obese ones. The aim of this study was to focus on the association between NAFLD and metabolic events in a non-obese or obese Chinese population.

Methods

Data collected from subjects registered at Taichung Veterans General Hospital from January to December 2009 were analyzed. The exclusion criteria were alcoholics, chronic hepatitis B or C. Patients included in analyses were assigned to four groups according to sonography of their liver (normal or NAFLD), and body mass index (BMI) levels (non-obese if BMI?2 or obese if BMI?≥?25?kg/m²).

Results

There were 745, 208, 770 and 285 patients enrolled in four groups labeled non-obese normal liver (group A), non-obese NAFLD (group B), obese normal liver (group C) and obese NAFLD (group D), respectively. The highest ratio of metabolic syndrome existed in the group B (26.9%), followed by group A (11.7%), group D (10.9%) and finally the group C (5.2%). The positive association with NAFLD in non-obese individuals was significant in triglyceride (OR?=?1.01; 95% CI: 1.01–1.02) and glucose (OR?=?1.02; 95% CI: 1.01–1.03), while the positive association with NAFLD in obese subjects was only significant in triglyceride (OR?=?1.01; 95% CI: 1.01–1.02). The positive association was most significant in all cases (adjusted OR?=?2.41; 95% CI: 1.78–3.24), especially in non-obese individuals (OR?=?2.81; 95% CI: 1.92–4.12).

Conclusions

Non-obese NAFLD subjects displayed a higher proportion of metabolic abnormality. Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia had the most positive strength association with NAFLD.