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Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level is associated with serum superoxide dismutase activity and metabolic syndrome in a Japanese population

  • Original Article—Liver, Pancreas, and Biliary Tract
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level has attracted considerable attention as a predictor of various conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Although the mechanism that links the serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level to these diseases is not fully understood, one explanation is that gamma-glutamyltransferase may be closely related to oxidative stress. We conducted a large cross-sectional study to evaluate the relationship between serum gamma-glutamyltransferase and oxidative stress.

Methods

We examined anti-oxidative stress activity and accumulation of oxidative stress in serum obtained from 2907 subjects who underwent a complete health check-up. We used serum total superoxide dismutase activity as an index of anti-oxidative stress activity. Superoxide dismutase is one of the most important intracellular and extracellular defense systems against superoxide, but the relationship between serum superoxide dismutase activity and the serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level is unclear.

Results

The serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level was negatively correlated with serum superoxide dismutase activity, a correlation that was observed even within the normal range. A subgroup analysis stratified by the amount of alcohol consumed also showed a similar correlation. In contrast, the serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level was positively correlated with serum lipid peroxide level, even in the normal range. Furthermore, an increased serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level was significantly associated with the progression of metabolic syndrome and carotid artery intima-media thickness.

Conclusions

The serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level, even in the normal range, was significantly associated with anti-oxidative stress activity, the accumulation of oxidative stress, metabolic syndrome, and atherosclerosis. Measuring the serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level is simple and inexpensive, and this level can be used as a sensitive marker of oxidative stress and metabolic syndrome.

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Abbreviations

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

BMI:

Body mass index

CuZn-SOD:

Copper/zinc-containing superoxide dismutase

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

GGT:

Gamma-glutamyltransferase

GSH:

Glutathione

HDL-C:

High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol

IMT:

Intima-media thickness

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

TC:

Total cholesterol

T-SOD:

Total superoxide dismutase

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (H20-kannenn-008).

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan

    Hayato Nakagawa, Ryosuke Tateishi, Haruhiko Yoshida & Kazuhiko Koike

  2. Center for Multiphasic Health Testing and Services, Mitsui Memorial Hospital, 1 Kanda-Izumi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-8643, Japan

    Hayato Nakagawa, Mizuki Tani & Minoru Yamakado

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Mitsui Memorial Hospital, 1 Kanda-Izumi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-8643, Japan

    Akihiro Isogawa

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  1. Hayato Nakagawa
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  2. Akihiro Isogawa
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  4. Mizuki Tani
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Correspondence to Hayato Nakagawa.

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Nakagawa, H., Isogawa, A., Tateishi, R. et al. Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level is associated with serum superoxide dismutase activity and metabolic syndrome in a Japanese population. J Gastroenterol 47, 187–194 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-011-0477-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-011-0477-8

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