The Association of leptin with severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A population-based study - PubMed (original) (raw)

The Association of leptin with severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A population-based study

Laura Rotundo et al. Clin Mol Hepatol. 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Background/aims: Leptin is associated with metabolic disorders, which predispose one to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The role of leptin in NAFLD pathogenesis is not fully understood. We aim to investigate the association between serum leptin level and severity of NAFLD using U.S. nationally representative data.

Methods: Data were obtained from the United States Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. NAFLD was defined by ultrasound detection and severity of hepatic steatosis in the absence of other liver diseases. The severity of hepatic fibrosis was determined by NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS). We used multivariate survey-weighted generalized logistic regression to evaluate the association between leptin level and the degree of NAFLD. We also performed subgroup analyses by body mass index (lean vs. classic NAFLD).

Results: Among 4,571 people, 1,610 (35%) had NAFLD. By ultrasound findings, there were 621 people with mild, 664 with moderate, and 325 with severe steatosis. There were 885 people with low NFS (<-1.455, no significant fibrosis), 596 with intermediate NFS, and 129 with high NFS (>0.676, advanced fibrosis). Leptin levels for normal, mild, moderate and severe steatosis were 10.7±0.3 ng/mL, 12.1±0.7 ng/mL, 15.6±0.8 ng/mL, 16±1.0 ng/mL, respectively (trend P-value<0.001). Leptin levels for low, intermediate, and high NFS were 11.8±0.5 ng/mL, 15.6±0.8 ng/mL, 28.5±3.5ng/mL, respectively (trend P-value<0.001). This association remained significant even after adjusting for known demographic and metabolic risk factors. In the subgroup analysis, this association was only prominent in classic NAFLD, but not in lean NAFLD.

Conclusion: Serum leptin level is associated with the severity of NAFLD, especially in classic NAFLD patients.

Keywords: Fibrosis; Leptin; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

The authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Selection criteria of the study population from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III) database. MEC, Mobile Examination Center; HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; BMI, body mass index; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase.

Figure 2.

Figure 2.

Leptin level by degree of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) based on liver ultrasound findings with 95% confidence intervals.

Figure 3.

Figure 3.

Leptin level based on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) fibrosis score with 95% confidence intervals.

Comment in

References

    1. Fantuzzi G, Faggioni R. Leptin in the regulation of immunity, inflammation, and hematopoiesis. J Leukoc Biol. 2000;68:437–446. - PubMed
    1. Angulo P, Alba LM, Petrovic LM, Adams LA, Lindor KD, Jensen MD. Leptin, insulin resistance, and liver fibrosis in human nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. J Hepatol. 2004;41:943–949. - PubMed
    1. Testa R, Franceschini R, Giannini E, Cataldi A, Botta F, Fasoli A, et al. Serum leptin levels in patients with viral chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis. J Hepatol. 2000;33:33–37. - PubMed
    1. Bouloumie A, Marumo T, Lafontan M, Busse R. Leptin induces oxidative stress in human endothelial cells. FASEB J. 1999;13:1231–1238. - PubMed
    1. Ikejima K, Honda H, Yoshikawa M, Hirose M, Kitamura T, Takei Y, et al. Leptin augments inflammatory and profibrogenic responses in the murine liver induced by hepatotoxic chemicals. Hepatology. 2001;34:288–297. - PubMed

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources