Michael Leutner1,2, Christian Göbl3,2, Oliver Schlager4,2, Silvia Charwat-Resl4,2, Alice Wielandner5,2, Eleonora Howorka1,2, Marlies Prünner1,2, Latife Bozkurt6,2, Katharina Maruszczak1,2, Hacer Geyik1,2, Helmut Prosch5,2, Giovanni Pacini7,2, Alexandra Kautzky-Willer1,2. 1. a Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism , Gender Medicine Unit. 2. g Metabolic Unit, Institute of Neuroscience , National Research Council , Padova , Italy. 3. b Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics , Division of Obstetrics and Feto-Maternal Medicine. 4. c Department of Internal Medicine II , Division of Angiology. 5. d Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image Guided Therapy. 6. e Department of Internal Medicine III , Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 7. f Medical University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with hyperlipidemia are at high risk for developing a fatty liver. The fatty liver index (FLI) is a noninvasive and well-established method for the estimation of a fatty liver. However, little is known about the metabolic characterization of nondiabetic treated patients with hyperlipidemia who have different risk levels for a fatty liver. METHODS: In this study, 74 nondiabetic patients with hyperlipidemia were divided into 3 groups according to their fatty liver index. A comparison of metabolic characteristics was done. These characteristics included intima media thickness (IMT) and nutritional habits, which were further divided into FLI subgroups with low, intermediate, and high risk for a fatty liver. RESULTS: Patients with hyperlipidemia, with a high risk for a fatty liver (FLI ≥ 60), had subclinical elevations in parameters of carbohydrate metabolism (insulin, fasting plasma glucose, C-peptide) including a higher insulin resistance (quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, QUICKI) compared to lower FLI groups. These patients also presented a higher risk for a metabolic syndrome (p = 0.018), as well as an adverse lipid profile (e.g., high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, triglycerides [TG]-HDL ratio). FLI group 3 was characterized by significantly lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids (p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: The fatty liver index relates to diabetes-specific parameters and an adverse lipid profile and is an appropriate index for risk evaluation of metabolic syndrome.
BACKGROUND:Patients with hyperlipidemia are at high risk for developing a fatty liver. The fatty liver index (FLI) is a noninvasive and well-established method for the estimation of a fatty liver. However, little is known about the metabolic characterization of nondiabetic treated patients with hyperlipidemia who have different risk levels for a fatty liver. METHODS: In this study, 74 nondiabeticpatients with hyperlipidemia were divided into 3 groups according to their fatty liver index. A comparison of metabolic characteristics was done. These characteristics included intima media thickness (IMT) and nutritional habits, which were further divided into FLI subgroups with low, intermediate, and high risk for a fatty liver. RESULTS:Patients with hyperlipidemia, with a high risk for a fatty liver (FLI ≥ 60), had subclinical elevations in parameters of carbohydrate metabolism (insulin, fasting plasma glucose, C-peptide) including a higher insulin resistance (quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, QUICKI) compared to lower FLI groups. These patients also presented a higher risk for a metabolic syndrome (p = 0.018), as well as an adverse lipid profile (e.g., high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, triglycerides [TG]-HDL ratio). FLI group 3 was characterized by significantly lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids (p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: The fatty liver index relates to diabetes-specific parameters and an adverse lipid profile and is an appropriate index for risk evaluation of metabolic syndrome.
Entities:
Keywords:
dyslipidemia; intima media thickness; metabolic syndrome; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; nutrition; type 2 diabetes