Liver fat accumulation assessed by computed tomography is an independent risk factor for diabetes mellitus in a population-based study: SESSA (Shiga Epidemiological Study of Subclinical Atherosclerosis)

• Published in: Diabetes research and clinical practice Vol. 160; p. 108002
• Main Authors: Fuse, Keiko, Kadota, Aya, Kondo, Keiko, Morino, Katsutaro, Fujiyoshi, Akira, Hisamatsu, Takashi, Kadowaki, Sayaka, Miyazawa, Itsuko, Ugi, Satoshi, Maegawa, Hiroshi, Miura, Katsuyuki, Ueshima, Hirotsugu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.02.2020
• Subjects: Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - etiology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - physiopathology; Epidemiologic Studies; Fatty liver; Fatty Liver - complications; Fatty Liver - diagnostic imaging; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; CT; Diabetes mellitus; Fatty liver
• ISSN: 0168-8227; 1872-8227; 1872-8227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2020.108002

Ectopic fat accumulation is related to insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the effect of fatty liver on DM in non-obese individuals has not been clarified. We investigated whether liver fat accumulation assessed by computed tomography (CT) is associated with the incidence of DM. In a prospective population-based study, 640 Japanese men were followed up for 5 years. The liver to spleen (L/S) ratio of the CT attenuation value was used as the liver fat accumulation index. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the DM incidence of per 1 standard deviation (SD) lower L/S and those of L/S < 1.0 compared with L/S ≥ 1.0, using logistic regression models. Both per 1 SD lower L/S and L/S < 1.0 were significantly associated with a risk for DM incidence (1 SD lower L/S: OR = 1.57, 95%CI = 1.14–2.16; L/S < 1.0: OR = 2.27, 95%CI = 1.00–5.14). The relationship between L/S and incidence of DM was consistent in the obese and non-obese groups, with thresholds of BMI 25 kg/m2, waist circumference 85 cm, or visceral adipose tissue 100 cm2. Liver fat accumulation assessed by CT was associated with the incidence of DM.