Association of serum uric acid level with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study

• Published in: Journal of hepatology Vol. 50; no. 5; pp. 1029 - 1034
• Main Authors: Li, Youming, Xu, Chengfu, Yu, Chaohui, Xu, Lei, Miao, Min
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.05.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Association; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; China - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Fatty Liver - blood; Fatty Liver - epidemiology; Fatty Liver - ethnology; Female; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic Syndrome - blood; Metabolic Syndrome - epidemiology; Metabolic Syndrome - ethnology; Middle Aged; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Other diseases. Semiology; Prevalence; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Uric acid; Uric Acid - blood; SBP; NAFLD; PR; OR; LDL-C; CI; IQR; Uric acid; WC; TC; HDL-C; SD; SE; DBP; TG; Association; GGT; MBP; FPG; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; SUA; BMI; triglyceride; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; prevalence ratio; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; interquartile range; odds ratio; systolic blood pressure; total cholesterol; diastolic blood pressure; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; serum uric acid; prevalence rate; waist circumference; body mass index; standard error; confidence interval; γ-glutamyltransferase; fasting plasma glucose; mean blood pressure; standard deviation; Cross sectional study; Non alcoholic steatohepatitis; Gastroenterology; Digestive diseases; Hepatic disease; Serum
• ISSN: 0168-8278; 1600-0641
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2008.11.021

Serum uric acid level has been suggested to be associated with factors that contribute to the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of serum uric acid level with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A cross-sectional study was performed among the employees of Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company Ltd., Ningbo, China. The study included 8925 subjects (6008 men) with a mean age of 43 years. The prevalence rates of NAFLD and hyperuricemia were 11.78% and 14.71%, respectively. NAFLD patients had significantly higher serum uric acid levels than controls (370.3±86.6 vs. 321.1±82.6μmol/L; P<0.001). The prevalence rate of NAFLD was significantly higher in subjects with hyperuricemia than in those without hyperuricemia (24.75% vs. 9.54%; P<0.001), and the prevalence rate increased with progressively higher serum uric acid levels (P value for trend <0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that hyperuricemia was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD (odds ratio [OR]: 1.291, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.067–1.564; P<0.001). Serum uric acid level is significantly associated with NAFLD, and elevated serum uric acid level is an independent risk factor for NAFLD.