Serum levels of interleukin-1 beta associate better with severity of simple steatosis than liver function tests in morbidly obese patients

• Published in: Journal of research in medical sciences Vol. 23; no. 1; p. 93
• Main Authors: Palomera, Leon, Gómez-Arauz, Angélica, Villanueva-Ortega, Eréndira, Meléndez-Mier, Guillermo, Islas-Andrade, Sergio, Escobedo, Galileo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.01.2018; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Cholesterol; Cytokines; Fatty liver; Insulin resistance; interleukin-1 beta; Liver; liver functions tests; morbid; Obesity; Short Communication; Software; Studies; Triglycerides; Womens health; La Jolla California; Mexico; United States > US; Ireland; Fatty liver; interleukin-1 beta; liver functions tests; morbid; obesity
• ISSN: 1735-1995; 1735-1995; 1735-7136
• DOI: 10.4103/jrms.JRMS_142_18

Background: In high-fat diet-fed mice, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) has been shown to play a key role in hepatic steatosis. However, it remains unknown whether IL-1 beta could be associated with different grades of steatosis in obese humans. Materials and Methods: Morbidly obese patients (n = 124) aged 18-65 years were divided into four groups: no steatosis (controls), mild steatosis, moderate steatosis, and severe steatosis using abdominal ultrasound. IL-1 beta serum levels and liver function tests were measured and significant differences were estimated by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test. Results: IL-1 beta serum levels significantly increased in morbidly obese patients with mild (11.38 ± 2.40 pg/ml), moderate (16.72 ± 2.47 pg/ml), and severe steatosis (23.29 ± 5.2 pg/ml) as compared to controls (7.78 ± 2.26 pg/ml). Liver function tests did not significantly change among different grades of steatosis. Conclusion: IL-1 beta serum levels associate better with steatosis degree than liver function tests in morbidly obese population.