Obesity / iron / NAFLD

CONCLUSION: Both hyperinsulinemia induced by insulin resistance and iron
overload represented by ferritin elevation  were significantly associated with
NAFLD in obese patients.


http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/ijo/journal/vaop/ncurrent
/abs/0802519a.html

http://tinyurl.com/wcjp

International Journal of Obesity advance online publication 11 November 2003;
doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802519
 
 
Paper 
Insulin resistance and ferritin as major determinants of nonalcoholic fatty
liver disease in apparently healthy obese patients 
 
T-J Hsiao1, J-C Chen1 and J-D Wang2 
 
1Department of Internal Medicine, Tao-Yuan General Hospital, Taiwan

2National Taiwan University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine,
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public
Health, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
 
Correspondence to: Dr J-D Wang, Institute of Occupational Medicine and
Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 1
Jen-Ai Rd Sec 1, Taipei 10018, Taiwan. E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 
 
Received 26 February 2003; revised 10 July 2003; accepted 5 September 2003;
published online 11 November 2003 
 
Abstract 
 
OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to test the possible association
between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and iron and insulin
resistance, and to determine the prevalence of NAFLD in apparently healthy
obese subjects.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional, clinical epidemiologic study.

SUBJECTS: A total of 210 apparently healthy obese patients, aged from 18 to 65
y, with a body mass index (BMI) of 28 kg/m2 or more, were enrolled in a body
weight reduction program in our hospital.

MEASUREMENTS: All the subjects underwent screening and preprogram examinations,
including anthropometric data measurements, biochemistry testing, and
ultrasonography of the liver. NAFLD was defined as fatty liver diagnosed by
ultrasonograpgy plus persistent elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
levels.

RESULTS: Of the 210 patients, 80% (168/210) had fatty liver. Persistent ALT
elevation in two separate tests was further detected in 25.6% (43/168) of
patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed waist circumference and
insulin resistance to be independently associated with fatty liver. Serum
ferritin level and insulin resistance were two major risk factors predicting
NAFLD.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of NAFLD was 20.5% (43/210) in obese patients. As
both hyperinsulinemia induced by insulin resistance and iron overload
represented by ferritin elevation might damage hepatocytes, we concluded that
these two factors were significantly associated with NAFLD in obese patients.
 
 
Keywords 
 
insulin resistance; ferritin; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; waist
circumference
 
 
 Who loves ya.
Tom
Jesus Was A Vegetarian! http://jesuswasavegetarian.7h.com
Man Is A Herbivore! http://pages.ivillage.com/ironjustice/manisaherbivore
DEAD PEOPLE WALKING http://pages.ivillage.com/ironjustice/deadpeoplewalking