Abnormal liver function test results are related to metabolic syndrome and BMI in Taiwanese adults without chronic hepatitis B or C

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is considered a cause of abnormal deposition of fat into hepatocytes, which might be associated with hepatic steatosis or abnormal liver function. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the factors associated with MS and the relationship between MS and abnormal aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels in Taiwanese subjects without chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or C (CHC). Subjects: We enrolled 2539 Taiwanese adults without CHB or CHC (age range: 16-88 years old) and investigated the factors related to MS using the NCEP-ATP (National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel) III criteria; body mass index (BMI) was measured using Asia-Pacific criteria. Results: The prevalence rate of MS in Taiwanese adults without CHB or CHC was 16.9% using the modified ATP III criteria and 15.4% using the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Males had a significantly higher prevalence rate than females (P < 0.001), and subjects with MS were significantly older and had significantly higher BMI values and AST, ALT and GGT levels (all P < 0.001). In univariate analyses, the abnormality of liver function test results were related to gender, level of fasting sugar, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, BMI and MS (all P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the male gender, a higher BMI value and MS were related to abnormal liver function test results. The cutoff value for ALT in relation to MS is 31 IU l(-1) for male and 18 IU l(-1) for female. Conclusion: The prevalence of MS in Taiwanese adults without hepatitis B or C was found to be high, and MS and BMI were identified as being related to abnormal liver function test results in these adults. International Journal of Obesity (2009) 33, 1309-1317; doi:10.1038/ijo.2009.172; published online 15 September 2009