Urine uric acid excretion is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes

Aims: Elevated serum uric acid is closely associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the association of urine uric acid excretion (UUAE) with NAFLD has not been investigated. Our aims were to explore the associations between UUAE and NAFLD and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2042 Chinese inpatients with T2DM. UUAE was determined enzymatically using a single 24-h urine collection. The subjects were stratified into quartile based on UUAE levels. NAFLD was determined by ultrasonography. Elevated ALT level was defined with an ALT value >65 U/L. Results: There was an obvious increase in both NAFLD prevalence (263%, 34.6%, 43.8%, and 56.2%, respectively, p < 0.001 for trend) and ALT value [16 (12-24), 17 (13-27), 20 (14-30), and 24 (15-38) U/L, respectively, p < 0.001 for trend] across the UUAE quartiles after controlling for confounders. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed independent associations between UUAE and NAFLD (p = 0.002) and elevated ALT level (p < 0.001). Compared with the patients in the first quartile of UUAE, those in the second, third and fourth quartiles had 1.528-, 1.869-, and 1.906-fold risk of NAFLD, and 3.620-, 6.223-, and 10.506-fold risk of elevated ALT level in T2DM, respectively. Conclusions: Increased UUAE levels were significantly associated with the presence of NAFLD and increase of ALT in T2DM. UUAE may be a clinically significant measure in assessing the risk of NAFLD in T2DM. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.