Obese Subjects with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Have a Higher Risk of Thyroid Dysfunction

Mercury is widely distributed in the environment, and a plausible association between mercury exposure and hepatic damage has been reported. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which comprises a spectrum of liver diseases, has recently been recognized in non-obese subjects. However, there have been no studies on the relationship between internal mercury levels and NAFLD in non-obese individuals. Therefore, we investigated the association between blood mercury levels and NAFLD in non-obese subjects. Cross-sectional data (n = 5919) were obtained from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2012–2014). NAFLD was defined using the hepatic steatosis index (HSI). Blood mercury levels were log-transformed and divided into quartiles based on a weighted sample distribution. The association between blood mercury levels and NAFLD was analyzed using a multivariate logistic analysis after body mass index stratification. The geometric mean of blood mercury in the overweight group was significantly higher than that of the non-obese group (p < 0.001). The weighted frequencies of patients with NAFLD based on the HSI were 3.0–7.2% for the non-obese subjects and 52.3–63.2% for the overweight subjects. In the multivariate analysis, blood mercury levels were positively associated with NAFLD for both the overweight and non-obese groups (all p for trend < 0.001). Increased blood mercury levels are closely associated with NAFLD. In particular, mercury could be a risk factor for NAFLD in the non-obese population.

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Thyroid dysfunction in primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Liver International ◽

10.1111/j.1478-3231.2009.02003.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 29 (7) ◽

pp. 1094-1100 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Marina G. Silveira ◽

Flavia D. Mendes ◽

Nancy N. Diehl ◽

Felicity T. Enders ◽

Keith D. Lindor

Keyword(s):

Liver Disease ◽

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Sclerosing Cholangitis ◽

Thyroid Dysfunction ◽

Biliary Cirrhosis ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

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THE ROLE OF ZONULIN IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIVER FIBROSIS IN OBESE ADOLESCENTS

Wiadomości Lekarskie ◽

10.36740/wlek202101115 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 74 (1) ◽

pp. 77-82

Author(s):

Liudmyla K. Parkhomenko ◽

Larysa A. Strashok ◽

Margaryta A. Khomenko

Keyword(s):

Liver Disease ◽

Liver Fibrosis ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Ultrasound Examination ◽

Model Assessment ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Obese Adolescents ◽

Obese Subjects ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

The aim: To study the relationship between zonulin level and PNFI (pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis index) in obese adolescents. Material and methods: A total of fifty-nine obese subjects aged 12-17 years and thirteen healthy subjects were included in the study. Clinical, biochemical parameters, including serum zonulin, were examined and abdominal ultrasound examination was performed. For the assessment of liver fibrosis PNFI was calculated. Results: According to ultrasound examination 71,2% of obese adolescents had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Calculation of PNFI showed that 25,4% of obese subjects had fibrotic processes in the liver. Obese adolescents had significantly higher zonulin levels compared to normal weight peers – 91,8±3,1 vs 15,9±5,1 respectively (р<0,01). A significant positive correlation was established between zonulin levels and such parameters as body mass index, waist circumference / height ratio, triglycerides, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, PNFI (p<0,05). Conclusions: The level of zonulin increases with an increase of the index for evaluating liver fibrosis (PNFI) in obese adolescents. This may indicate the effect of the state of the intestinal barrier on the development and progression of obesity-related liver pathology, namely NAFLD, in obese adolescents.

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Difference in lifestyle and metabolic profile of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with raised alanine amino-transferases between obese and non-overweight subjects

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-72306-x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mithun Sharma ◽

Anand Kulkarni ◽

Pramod Kumar ◽

Vijay Bhaskar Nori ◽

Nitin Jagtap ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Insulin Resistance ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Metabolic Profile ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Obese Group ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Obese Subjects ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract A significant proportion of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Asian sub-continent are non-overweight and may have different underlying risk factors, lifestyles and metabolic profiles. Seven hundred fifty patients of NAFLD with raised alanine-amino-transferase (ALT) were divided into non-overweight and obese group based on their body mass index (BMI). Detailed dietary and lifestyle history were obtained through questionnaires and a detailed assessment of metabolic profile and liver stiffness was done. Normal BMI (< 23 kg/m2) was found in 6.6% patients, of which 69.5% had raised ALT. Though the intake of dietary fat and exercise pattern were not different amongst these groups, yet the amount of aerated drinks was higher in obese subjects (12 ± 17 vs. 7 ± 7.5 p = 0.005). Serum low-density lipoprotein (111 ± 25.6 vs. 127.7 ± 32.7 p = 0.04) and insulin resistance based on HOMA-IR > 2 were significantly higher in obese group (4.1 ± 0.36 vs. 2.0 ± 0.15 p = 0.001). Insulin resistance and dyslipidemia were prevalent in 12% and 25% non-overweight patients respectively. Metabolic syndrome was more common in obese subjects. In addition, magnetic resonance elastography showed higher mean liver fat in the obese group with similar hepatic fibrosis. Non-overweight patients with NAFLD had lower insulin resistance and prevalence of dyslipidaemia at similar dietary and exercise pattern.

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