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Clinical features of fatty liver in nonobese Japanese without regular alcohol intake

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Abstract

Aim

The clinical features of fatty liver (FL) detected by ultrasonography (US) in nonobese and diabetes mellitus type 2 are not yet understood, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) has become an important health issue throughout the world. We investigated the clinical features of fatty liver (FL) in nonobese patients.

Methods

From 2008 to 2010, 2192 Japanese patients underwent a medical checkup at our hospital. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2, while normal waist circumference (WC) was defined as <85 cm in males and <90 cm in females. FL was determined in 958 after excluding subjects who regularly drank alcohol (≥20 g/day), who were obese, or had an abnormal WC. We evaluated the clinical backgrounds [biological and lipid examination results, fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, insulin, HOMA-R, blood pressure (BP), BMI, and medical interviews].

Results

BP, triglyceride, and HOMA-R levels were significantly elevated in nonobese with normal WC with FL (males: 122/78 vs. 120/76 mmHg, 161.5 vs. 105.5 mg/dl, 1.9 vs. 1.3, respectively; females: 120/73 vs. 116/71 mmHg, 115.2 vs. 82.0 mg/dl, 1.7 vs. 1.3, respectively). Both males and females with FL had a past history of increased body weight over 10 kg after reaching the age of 20 years as compared to those without FL (P < 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively).

Conclusion

Nonobese subjects with normal WC and FL had significantly higher BP, triglyceride, and HOMA-R levels than nonobese subjects with normal WC without FL. Lifestyle instruction should be given to such individuals to prevent insulin resistance and progression to MetS.

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Correspondence to Atsushi Hiraoka.

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Hiraoka, A., Imai, Y., Shinbata, Y. et al. Clinical features of fatty liver in nonobese Japanese without regular alcohol intake. Diabetol Int 6, 60–65 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13340-014-0175-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13340-014-0175-x

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