Plasma reactive carbonyl species levels and risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Background and Aim: Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, there is still no large cohort study to explore the direct risk role of oxidative stress for NAFLD. This study is to test the hypothesis that elevated oxidative stress is a direct risk factor for the pathogenesis of NAFLD under controlling the potential effects of covariates. Methods: The levels of serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, fasting plasma glucose and plasma reactive carbonyl species (RCS) were measured from 1204 Chinese Han adults, and the questionnaire and physical examination were administered to those with known and suspected risk factors for NAFLD. Results: Statistically significant high levels of blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, serum cholesterol and triglyceride, body mass index, serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and plasma RCS were observed in NAFLD subjects compared to healthy subjects (P < 0.01). Multivariate‐adjusted odds ratio illustrated that, compared with the lowest quartile of plasma RCS levels, the highest quartile subjects had a 132% increase in the risk of developing NAFLD. Further results from multi‐interaction analysis demonstrated that the underlying mechanism of the risk of NAFLD by unhealthy physical conditions and lifestyles might be, at least in part, through the oxidative stress. Conclusions: Our findings provide credible evidence from a large population that oxidative stress, as indicated by plasma RCS levels, may be a direct risk factor for developing NAFLD.