Liver injury tests in hazardous waste workers: the role of obesity.

The prevalence of fatty liver disease at autopsy ranges from 40% to 80% in Europe and North America, and liver injury tests are abnormal in up to 8% of healthy populations. Liver injury tests were therefore examined in a group of 325 workers without exposure to hepatotoxins to identify the influence of obesity and gender. Obesity was a strong predictor of the degree of abnormality for serum levels of arginine and alanine aminotransferase and of alkaline phosphatase, even in the normal range. Women generally demonstrated lower levels of these enzymes. Workers with morbid obesity were substantially more likely to have abnormal liver injury tests. Obesity and gender must be considered in the interpretation of abnormal liver injury tests in hazardous waste workers.