scholarly journals Prevalence of NAFLD in Healthy and Young Male Individuals

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asif Niaz ◽  
Zafar Ali ◽  
Shaista Nayyar ◽  
Naureen Fatima

Introduction. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an important cause of liver disease in adults and the most common cause of liver disease in children (Lavine and Schwimmer 2004). The abnormalities include increased liver fat without inflammation (steatosis) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH may lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately liver failure if it is not treated (Matteoni et al. 1999). The objective of the study is to estimate the magnitude of the problem which will help us to formulate strategies in managing the potentially difficult problem. Materials and Methods. We included 1000 individuals between the ages of 30 and 50 years who came for annual checkup. The patients with other comorbidities like diabetes, ischemic heart disease, chronic liver disease, or renal diseases were excluded from the study. History of alcohol ingestion was also taken; any individual with history of alcohol intake was also excluded. All of them underwent investigations including CBC, LFTs, height and weight. The individuals who were found to have increased ALT (50 to 150 u/L) further underwent investigations including ultrasound of abdomen hepatitis b and c serology RA and ANA antibodies. All the individuals who were found to have viral or autoimmune illness were excluded from the study. The individuals having raised ALT levels and ultrasound evidence of fatty liver were taken. Results. 13.5% of the individuals were found to have NAFLD among those selected for the study. Conclusion. Mass campaign regarding physical and dietary measures needs to be undertaken in general masses regarding the gravity and potential prevention of the disease.

Metabolites ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Alessandro Mantovani ◽  
Graziana Petracca ◽  
Alessandro Csermely ◽  
Giorgia Beatrice ◽  
Giovanni Targher

Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) tested the efficacy of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors to specifically treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We systematically searched three electronic databases (up to 31 October 2020) for identifying placebo-controlled or head-to-head RCTs that used SGLT-2 inhibitors for treatment of NAFLD. No published RCTs with paired liver biopsy data were available for the meta-analysis. Primary outcome measures were changes in serum liver enzyme levels and liver fat content on imaging techniques. Overall, we included a total of twelve RCTs testing the efficacy of dapagliflozin (n = six RCTs), empagliflozin (n = three RCTs), ipragliflozin (n = two RCTs) or canagliflozin (n = one RCT) to specifically treat NAFLD for a median period of 24 weeks with aggregate data on 850 middle-aged overweight or obese individuals with NAFLD (90% with type 2 diabetes). Compared to placebo/reference therapy, treatment with SGLT-2 inhibitors significantly decreased serum alanine aminotransferase (weighted mean differences (WMD): −10.0 IU/L, 95%CI −12.2 to −7.79 IU/L; I2 = 10.5%) and gamma-glutamyltransferase levels (WMD: −14.49 IU/L, 95%CI −19.35 to −9.63 IU/L, I2 = 38.7%), as well as the absolute percentage of liver fat content on magnetic resonance-based techniques (WMD: −2.05%, 95%CI −2.61 to −1.48%; I2 = 0%). In conclusion, SGLT-2 inhibitors seem to be a promising treatment option for NAFLD.


Circulation ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (suppl_12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa B VanWagner ◽  
Christina M Shay ◽  
Hongyan Ning ◽  
John Wilkins ◽  
Cora E Lewis ◽  
...  

Background: Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent studies suggest that NAFLD and coronary artery calcification (CAC) are related independent of VAT. In a population-based cross-sectional sample of black and white adults free from prevalent liver or heart disease, we tested the hypothesis that NAFLD is associated with the presence of CAC and abdominal aortoiliac calcification (AAC) independent of VAT and other CVD risk factors. Methods: Participants from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study (Y25 exam) with concurrent computed tomography quantification of liver fat, CAC and AAC were included (n=2,163). NAFLD was defined as liver attenuation ≤ 40 Hounsfield Units after exclusion of other causes of liver fat (medication/alcohol use). Using the Agatston method, CAC/AAC presence was defined as a score > 0. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: Participant age was 49.9 (3.7) years and the sample was equally distributed by sex (55.6% female) and race (50.1% black). Mean BMI was 30.6 (7.1). The CAC and AAC prevalence was 26.5% and 49.6%. NAFLD prevalence was 9.6%. NAFLD participants were 50.1 (3.7) years old and more likely to be male (59.8% vs. 51.7%, p<0.0001), white (56.5% vs. 49.3%, p<0.05) and have the metabolic syndrome (70.1% vs. 22.6%, p<0.0001) than those with no NAFLD. They were also more likely to have CAC (37.2%) and AAC (60.9%) than those with no NAFLD (25.4% and 49.4%, respectively). In multivariable analyses adjusted for demographics and health behaviors, NAFLD was associated with the presence of CAC and AAC (Table 1). This association was attenuated after adjustment for CVD risk factors and VAT. Effect modification by race and sex was not statistically significant. Conclusion: In contrast to prior studies, our results suggest that the relationship between NAFLD and subclinical CVD is mediated by the presence of other CVD risk factors.


Circulation ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 135 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa B VanWagner ◽  
Sadiya Khan ◽  
Hongyan NIng ◽  
Juned Siddique ◽  
Cora E Lewis ◽  
...  

Background: Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) has increased in parallel with obesity, is a risk factor for cirrhosis and liver cancer, and has few effective treatments. Identifying modifiable risk factors for NAFLD development is essential to effectively design prevention programs. We tested whether trajectories of body mass index (BMI) change throughout early adulthood were associated with risk of prevalent NAFLD in midlife independent of current BMI. Methods: Participants from the CARDIA study, a prospective multicenter population-based biracial cohort of adults (baseline age 18-30 years), underwent BMI measurement at exam years 0, 2, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, and 25. At Year 25 (Y25, 2010-2011), liver fat was assessed by computed tomography. NAFLD was identified after exclusion of other causes of liver fat (alcohol/hepatitis). Latent mixture modeling was used to identify 25-year trajectories in BMI percent (%) change relative to baseline BMI over time. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess associations between BMI trajectory group and prevalent NAFLD with adjustment for baseline or current Y25 BMI. Results: Among 4,423 participants, we identified 4 distinct trajectories of BMI %change: stable BMI (26.2% of the cohort, 25-year mean BMI Δ=0.7 kg/m 2 ), mild increase (46.0%, BMI Δ=5.2 kg/m 2 ), moderate increase (20.9%, BMI Δ=10.0 kg/m 2 ), and extreme increase (6.9%, BMI Δ=15.1 kg/m 2 ) (Figure). NAFLD prevalence at Y25 was higher with increasing BMI trajectory: 4.1%, 9.3%, 13.0%, and 17.6% (p-trend <0.0001). At baseline, 34.6% of participants had overweight or obesity. After adjustment for confounders, trajectories of greater BMI increase were associated with greater NAFLD prevalence independent of baseline or current Y25 BMI (Figure). Conclusion: Weight gain throughout adulthood is associated with greater prevalence of NAFLD in midlife independent of baseline or current BMI. These findings highlight weight maintenance throughout adulthood as a potential target for primary prevention of NAFLD.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa B VanWagner ◽  
Jane E Wilcox ◽  
Laura A Colangelo ◽  
Donald M Lloyd-Jones ◽  
J J Carr ◽  
...  

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an obesity-related condition with high cardiovascular morbidity. NAFLD patients often have echocardiographic features of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction. In a large population-based cross-sectional sample of black and white adults free from prevalent liver or heart disease, we tested the hypothesis that NAFLD is associated with subclinical myocardial dysfunction independent of BMI or visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Methods: Participants from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study (Y25 exam; age 43-55 years) with concurrent CT quantification of liver fat and tissue Doppler echocardiography with myocardial strain measured by speckle tracking were included (n=2,572). NAFLD was defined as liver attenuation ≤ 40 Hounsfield units after exclusion of other causes of liver fat (medication/alcohol use). Linear regression models were used to test associations. Results: NAFLD prevalence was 9.9%. NAFLD participants were more likely to be male (57.1% vs. 41.5%), white (57.5% vs. 50.6%), and had higher BMI (36.3 vs. 29.8 kg/m2) and VAT (222.4 vs. 120.5 cm3) than non-NAFLD. Those with NAFLD also had lower e’ tissue velocity (10.8 vs. 11.9 cm/s), lower E/A ratio (1.2 vs. 1.3), and higher E/e’ ratio (8.4 vs. 7.7). Increased LV mass, left atrial area, LV relative wall thickness, and cardiac output (CO) were present in NAFLD. Global longitudinal strain was also worse in NAFLD (-14.2% vs. -15.2%, all p<0.05). In multivariable analyses adjusted for demographics, health behaviors and BMI, the associations of NAFLD with markers of subclinical myocardial dysfunction were attenuated but remained significant (Table 1). Only e’ velocity, LV mass and CO remained significant after adjustment for VAT. Effect modification by race and sex was not statistically significant. Conclusion: NAFLD is associated with subclinical myocardial dysfunction independent of BMI. Attenuation of the relationship by VAT supports the hypothesis that VAT may be a marker of NAFLD.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel A. Tsochatzis ◽  
George V. Papatheodoridis ◽  
Athanasios J. Archimandritis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome and can vary from benign steatosis to end-stage liver disease. The pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is currently thought to involve a multiple-hit process with the first hit being the accumulation of liver fat which is followed by the development of necroinflammation and fibrosis. There is mounting evidence that cytokines secreted from adipose tissue, namely, adipokines, are implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of NAFLD. In the current review, we explore the role of these adipokines, particularly leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-a, and interleukin-6 in NASH, as elucidated in experimental models and clinical practice. We also comment on their potential use as noninvasive markers for differentiating simple fatty liver from NASH as well as on their potential future therapeutic role in patients with NASH.


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