Elevated serum levels of aminotransferases in relation to unhealthy foods intake: Tehran lipid and glucose study

• Published in: BMC endocrine disorders Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 100
• Main Authors: Mirmiran, Parvin, Gaeini, Zahra, Bahadoran, Zahra, Azizi, Fereidoun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 15.10.2019; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adult; Alanine transaminase; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Aminotransferases; Aspartate aminotransferase; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Beverages; Biomarkers - analysis; Blood Glucose - analysis; Blood pressure; Convenience foods; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnosis; Diet - adverse effects; Energy intake; Enzymes; Fast foods; Fatty liver; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Food consumption; Food habits; Food intake; Food Preferences; Food science; Health aspects; Humans; Laboratories; Lipids; Lipids - blood; Liver; Liver diseases; Liver enzymes; Male; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - blood; Metabolic Syndrome - diagnosis; Metabolic Syndrome - enzymology; Metabolic Syndrome - etiology; Middle Aged; Nutrients; Nutrition; Population; Prognosis; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Research centers; Risk Factors; Serum levels; Snacks; Soft drinks; Studies; Unhealthy foods; Iran; Fast foods; Snacks; Liver enzymes; Aminotransferases; Soft drinks; Unhealthy foods
• ISSN: 1472-6823; 1472-6823
• DOI: 10.1186/s12902-019-0437-5

Abnormal levels of liver enzymes, particularly aminotransferases, are prognostic features of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Considering the important role of dietary intakes in development of NAFLD, we aimed to determine possible association of unhealthy foods (fast foods, soft drinks, sweet and salty snacks) consumption with elevated levels of aminotransferases. This cross-sectional study was conducted within the framework of sixth phase of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (2014-2017), on 187 adult men and 249 adult women (19-70 y). Usual intakes of unhealthy foods (kcal/week) were measured using a validated semi-quantitative 147-items food frequency questionnaire. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of elevated aminotransferases in each tertile of energy-dense unhealthy foods. Mean age of participants was 44.44 ± 15.09 years, 43% of participants were men. Higher consumption of fast foods (> 11.39% kcal/week) was associated with elevated ALT to AST ratio (OR: 3.27; 95% CI: 1.90-5.63) and elevated ALT (OR: 2.74; 95% CI: 1.57-4.76). Also, each 1 SD increased energy intakes from fast foods was related to increased chance of having elevated ALT and ALT to AST ratio by 35% (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.08-1.68, OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.10-1.66, respectively). There was no significant association between consumption of soft drinks, sweet or salty snacks and elevated aminotransferases. Higher intakes of energy from fast foods seems to be associated with an elevated serum levels of ALT and ALT to AST ratio, as indicators of development of NAFLD.