2012, Number 1
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Ann Hepatol 2012; 11 (1)
Serum homocysteine levels in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseas
Polyzos SA, Kountouras J, Patsiaoura K, Katsiki E, Zafeiriadou E, Deretzi G, Zavos C, Gavalas E, Katsinelos P, Mane V, Slavakis A
Language: English
References: 34
Page: 68-76
PDF size: 103.23 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Background and rational for the study. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is regarded as the hepatic
component of insulin resistance (IR) syndrome, but data on serum homocysteine (HCY) are limited. The
aim of the study was the evaluation of serum HCY levels in patients with NAFLD.
Material and methods.
Thirty-one patients (54 ± 11 years, 8 males) with biopsy-proven NAFLD, 15 with simple nonalcoholic fatty liver
(NAFL) and 16 with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and 22 healthy controls (52 ± 9 years, 5 males)
matched for gender, age and body mass index (BMI), were recruited. Blood samples for HCY, folate, vitamin
B12, insulin and standard biochemical tests were obtained after overnight fasting. Homeostatic model
of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated.
Results. There was no difference in mean
serum HCY levels between controls and NAFLD patients (12.6 ± 4.6
vs. 13.5 ± 2.6 mmol/L, respectively; p =
0.432). Serum folate and vitamin B12 were also similar between the study groups. Mean age, BMI, serum folate
and vitamin B12 did not differ between NAFL and NASH patients. However, when compared with NAFL
patients, NASH patients had lower mean serum HCY levels (12.3 ± 2.5
vs. 14.7 ± 2.1 mmol/L; p = 0.006). HCY
was lower by increasing the grading of fibrosis (p = 0.005), portal inflammation (p = 0.029) and steatosis location
(p = 0.021). In logistic regression analysis, HCY independently predicted NASH (p = 0.045) after adjustment
for gender, age, BMI, AST, glucose and HOMA-IR.
Conclusion. Our data suggest that serum HCY
levels are lower in NASH compared with NAFL patients and can independently predict NASH. Serum HCY
might represent another non-invasive marker for the assessment of NAFLD.
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