Research in Medicine

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a relatively prevalent disorder with many suspected risk factors. The aim of this study was to assess the association between the suspected risk factors with the presence of NAFLD according to the ultrasonographic criteria in type II diabetic patients.

Materials and methods : The study was performed on 76 type 2 diabetic patients attending consecutively to endocrine clinic. Negative history of alcohol use and hepatitis B and C were our basic inclusion criteria. All candidates underwent thorough clinical and biochemical assays consist of height, weight, waist circumference, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL, liver trans-aminases, alkaline phosphatase, thyroid function tests, serum iron and total iron binding capacity and liver sonography to detect the presence (stage I to III) or absence of steatosis. The score of metabolic syndrome was determined according to the latest ATP III criteria. Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients and logistic regression were used to assess the relationship between suspected risk factors and the presence of NAFLD.

Results : Forty-nine patients (64.4%) were female. The mean age (± standard deviation) was 59.7±8.8 years. The mean BMI in patients with and without NAFLD were 29.4±4.5 and 24.8±3.8kg/m², respectively (p<0.001). Prevalence of NAFLD was significantly higher among patients with metabolic syndrome (89% vs. 43%, p<0.05). Age (r=-0.24, p<0.05), waist circumference (r=0.27, p<0.05) and triglyceride (r=0.28, p<0.05) had significant correlation with steatosis. However, in logistic regression analysis, only BMI (for each 5 unit increment) was independently associated with the presence of NAFLD (OR=4.25, 95%CI: 1.7-10.9, p<0.05).

Conclusion : In type 2 diabetic patients, only BMI had a significant role in predicting NAFLD. It seems that other metabolic factors will not give any additional information for predicting NAFLD.