Creatinine-to-bodyweight ratio is a predictor of incident non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A population-based longitudinal study

Association Between Maternal Creatinine to Body Weight Ratio and Small/Large for Gestational Age Newborns Among 11,734 Chinese Women

BACKGROUND

Serum creatinine to body weight ratio (CBWR) is closely associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes, and all-cause mortality. This study aimed to assess the impact of CBWR in late pregnancy on incident small and large for gestational age (SGA/LGA) deliveries.

METHODS

This observational study included 11,734 pregnant women with hospital-based hepatic/renal data (2016-2017). Demographic characteristics were compared between CBWR quintiles using appropriate parametric or nonparametric tests. Relationship between CBWR and clinical/laboratory parameters was assessed using Spearman's correlation. Linear regression was employed to evaluate the association of CBWR with fetal birth length/weight, while logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for SGA/LGA, with both models adjusting for maternal age, parity, blood pressure, gestational week, assisted reproduction, neonatal sex, and laboratory results. Sensitivity analyses and subgroup stratifications confirmed these associations. Non-linear trends were explored using smooth curve fitting techniques.

RESULTS

Among these newborns, 1033 (8.80%) were classified as SGA and 1,827 (15.57%) as LGA. CBWR was associated with smaller birth length (β = -0.21 cm; 95% CI: -0.28, -0.15) and lower birth weight (β = -0.29 kg; 95% CI: -0.31, -0.27) in the highest versus lowest quintile. The multivariate-adjusted ORs of SGA in higher quintiles versus the lowest quintile of CBWR were 1.63 (95% CI: 1.21, 2.21), 2.16 (95% CI: 1.61, 2.89), 2.99 (95% CI: 2.25, 3.97), and 5.24 (95% CI: 3.97, 6.92), respectively; those for LGA were 0.60 (95% CI: 0.52, 0.70), 0.53 (95% CI: 0.46, 0.62), 0.39 (95% CI: 0.32, 0.46), and 0.23 (95% CI: 0.19, 0.29), respectively. Per standard deviation (SD) increase in CBWR was accompanied by a 1.63-fold increase in SGA risk (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.52, 1.75) and a 42% decrease in LGA risk (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.55, 0.63). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the consistence of these findings. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that CBWR was strongly associated with SGA risk in women with CBWR > 0.98 umol/L/kg complicated by preeclampsia or preterm birth, while in those complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus, the association was attenuated.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that elevated CBWR in late pregnancy may be associated with decreased LGA risk and increased SGA risk. While CBWR represents an easily measurable and cost-effective potential indicator, these observational results require validation in prospective, population-based studies before considering clinical application.

Non-linear relationship between triglyceride glucose index and new-onset diabetes among individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

The relationship between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) values and the development of diabetes in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients is not yet well researched. This study aims to examine how the baseline TyG levels correlate with the incidence of new-onset diabetes in this specific cohort.

METHODS

This cohort included 2,506 normoglycemic Japanese adults with NAFLD who underwent routine health check-ups at Murakami Memorial Hospital between 2004 and 2015. Several statistical approaches, including restricted cubic splines and two-piecewise linear regression, were utilized to assess the relation between the TyG levels and diabetes risk.

RESULTS

Among the 2,506 participants (mean age: 44.78 ± 8.32 years; 81.09% male), 203 individuals (8.10%) developed diabetes over the course of the 11-year follow-up period. A U-shaped relationship was observed between the levels of TyG and the onset of diabetes, with an inflection point identified at a TyG value of 7.82 (95% CI: 7.72-8.00). Below this threshold, each one-unit elevation in TyG values reduced the probability of diabetes by 93% (HR = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01-0.32, P = 0.001). Conversely, above this threshold, each one-unit elevation increased the probability of diabetes by 70% (HR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.19-2.44, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings validate a U-shaped association between TyG levels and new-onset diabetes in adults with NAFLD. Both low and high TyG levels increase diabetes probability in such a group.

Non-linear associations between cardiovascular metabolic indices and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study in the US population (2017-2020)

The cardiometabolic index (CMI) is an emerging and effective indicator for predicting the presence of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). This study aims to investigate the relationship between CMI and MAFLD using data from NHANES 2017-2020. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 3,749 subjects were included. The study conducted a thorough analysis of CMI with three multivariate logistic regression models, subgroup analyses, and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were utilized. Using multifactorial logistic regression as the primary method of analysis, we found that a higher CMI was also significantly associated with an increased risk of MAFLD (OR = 1.45, 95% CI (1.05-2.01)). This result was further visualized by the RCS curve: There was a non-linear positive correlation between CMI and MAFLD incidence (the turning point is CMI = 0.4554). These findings were strongly reinforced by subsequent subgroup and sensitivity analyses. There is a robust positive relationship between the CMI and the risk of MAFLD, providing valuable clinical benefits for early detection and screening of MAFLD. It is important to highlight the presence of a non-linear association between CMI and MAFLD, with an inflection point identified at CMI = 0.4554.

The association between creatinine to body weight ratio and the risk of progression to diabetes from pre-diabetes: a 5-year cohort study in Chinese adults

OBJECTIVE

Evidence on the association between the creatinine to body weight (Cre/BW) ratio and the risk of pre-diabetes to diabetes development remains limited. Our study aimed to examine the association between the Cre/BW ratio and incident diabetes in pre-diabetic patients.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 24,506 pre-diabetic participants who underwent health checks from 2010 to 2016 in China. We used the Cox proportional-hazards regression model to explore the relationship between baseline Cre/BW ratio and diabetes risk in pre-diabetes patients. Using a Cox proportional hazards regression with cubic spline function and smooth curve fitting (cubical spline smoothing), we were able to determine the non-linear relationship between them. We also carried out a number of subgroup and sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

The age range of the participants included in this study was 20-99 years, with a majority of 16,232 individuals (66.24%) being men. The mean baseline Cre/BW ratio was 1.06 (SD 0.22) umol/L/kg. 2512 (10.25%) participants received a diabetes final diagnosis over a median follow-up period of 2.89 years. After adjusting for covariates, the Cre/BW ratio had a negative association with incident diabetes in participants with pre-diabetes, per umol/L/kg increase in Cre/BM ratio was accompanied by a 55.5% decrease in diabetes risk (HR = 0.445, 95%CI 0.361 to 0.548). The Cre/BW ratio and risk of diabetes had a non-linear connection, with 1.072 umol/L/kg serving as the ratio's inflection point. The HR were 0.294 (95%CI:0.208-0.414) and 0.712 (95%CI:0.492-1.029), respectively, on the left and right sides of the inflection point. The sensitivity analysis demonstrated the robustness of these results. Subgroup analyses indicated that the Cre/BW ratio was strongly associated with the risk of diabetes among participants who were younger than 50 years, as well as among those with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) < 90 mmHg and triglyceride (TG) < 1.7 mmol/L. In contrast, among participants 50 years of age or older, those with DBP ≥ 90 mmHg, and those with TG ≥ 1.7 mmol/L, the relationship between the Cre/BW ratio and the risk of diabetes was attenuated.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates a negative, non-linear relationship between the Cre/BW ratio and the risk of diabetes among the Chinese population with pre-diabetes. From a therapeutic standpoint, it is clinically meaningful to maintain the Cre/BW ratio levels above the inflection point of 1.072 umol/L/kg.

Bidirectional relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and serum creatinine-to-body weight ratio as a proxy for skeletal muscle mass index

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Although an association between skeletal muscle mass index and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has previously been demonstrated, the causal direction remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the directional association between NAFLD and the serum creatinine-to-body weight ratio (sCr/bw), a surrogate marker of the muscle mass index, using longitudinal data.

METHODS

We recruited 9662 participants in 2017 and performed follow-up over 4 years. We evaluated whether sCr/bw was related to NAFLD development (Analysis I) and whether NAFLD was associated with a low sCr/bw incidence (Analysis II) using logistic regression models. Furthermore, a random intercept cross-lagged panel model was applied to evaluate the bidirectional association between sCr/bw ratio and NAFLD (Analysis III).

RESULTS

Analysis I demonstrated an association between sCr/bw and incident NAFLD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.160, 95% confidence interval [CI]:0.107-0.232). Analysis II indicated a relationship between NAFLD and subsequent low sCr/bw ratio (OR = 1.524, 95% CI: 1.258-1.846). Analysis III indicated that the standard regression coefficient from sCr/bw to subsequent hepatic steatosis (HS) was -0.053 for βsCr/bw2017 → HS2019 and -0.060 for βsCr/bw2019 → HS2021 and the coefficient from HS to subsequent sCr/bw was -0.093 for βHS2017 → sCr/bw2019 and -0.112 for βHS2019 → sCr/bw2021 (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicated mutual causality between sCr/bw and NAFLD. Considering that sCr/bw is a surrogate marker of muscle mass index, the findings emphasize that NAFLD and low muscle mass form a vicious cycle, which should be taken seriously in clinical practice.

Association between creatinine to body weight ratio and all-cause mortality: a cohort study of NHANES

Research on the relationship between the weight-adjusted skeletal muscle mass index and all-cause mortality is rare, and even rarer is the relationship between the creatinine/body weight (Cre/BW) ratio and all-cause mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the Cre/BW ratio and mortality in individuals with normal renal function. This prospective study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. A Cox hazard model was used to analyze the relationship between the Cre/BW ratio and mortality risk. In total, 45,459 participants were included, of which 49.97% were women, with an average age of 45.68 ± 18.08 years. The incidence of all-cause mortality was 10.9% among these participants during the median (interquartile range) follow-up of 9.6 (5.2, 14.2) years. After adjusting for all covariates, a U-shaped relationship was found between the Cre/BW ratio and all-cause mortality (P for nonlinearity <0.001), with the lowest risk observed at Cre/BW ratios (×100) between 0.821 and 0.987. In the threshold effect analysis, the Cre/BW ratio (×100) had a threshold value of 0.96. When the Cre/BW ratio (×100) was <0.96, all-cause mortality was negatively associated with the Cre/BW ratio (×100) (0.63 (0.41, 0.97)). In contrast, when the Cre/BW ratio (×100) was ≥0.96, the higher Cre/BW ratio was associated with a greater hazard ratio of all-cause mortality (1.67 (1.41, 1.97)). In conclusion, we report a U-shaped relationship between the Cre/BW ratio and all-cause mortality. Controlling the Cre/BW ratio within a certain range may reduce the risk of all-cause mortality.

Association between triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and type 2 diabetes risk in Japanese

Abnormal lipid metabolism is known to increases the risk for metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). The relationship between baseline ratio of triglyceride to HDL cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) and T2DM in Japanese adults was investigated in this study. Our secondary analysis included 8419 male and 7034 female Japanese subjects who were free of diabetes at baseline. The correlation between baseline TG/HDL-C and T2DM was analyzed by a proportional risk regression model, the nonlinear correlation between baseline TG/HDL-C and T2DM was analyzed by a generalized additive model (GAM), and the threshold effect analysis was performed by a segmented regression model. We conducted subgroup analyses in different populations. During the median 5.39 years follow-up, 373 participants, 286 males and 87 females, developed diabetes mellitus. After full adjustment for confounders, the baseline TG/HDL-C ratio positively correlated with the risk of diabetes (hazard ratio 1.19, 95% confidence interval 1.09-1.3), and smoothed curve fitting and two-stage linear regression analysis revealed a J-shaped relationship between baseline TG/HDL-C and T2DM. The inflection point for baseline TG/HDL-C was 0.35. baseline TG/HDL-C > 0.35 was positively associated with the development of T2DM (hazard ratio 1.2, 95% confidence interval 1.10-1.31). Subgroup analysis showed no significant differences in the effect between TG/HDL-C and T2DM in different populations. A J-shaped relationship was observed between baseline TG/HDL-C and T2DM risk in the Japanese population. When TG/HDL-C was higher than 0.35, there was a positive relationship between baseline TG/HDL-C and the incidence of diabetes mellitus.

2019 Global NAFLD Prevalence: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The increasing rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus may lead to increased prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to determine the current and recent trends on the global and regional prevalence of NAFLD.

METHODS

Systematic search from inception to March 26, 2020 was performed without language restrictions. Two authors independently performed screening and data extraction. We performed meta-regression to determine trends in NAFLD prevalence.

RESULTS

We identified 17,244 articles from literature search and included 245 eligible studies involving 5,399,254 individuals. The pooled global prevalence of NAFLD was 29.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 28.6%-31.1%); of these, 82.5% of included articles used ultrasound to diagnose NAFLD, with prevalence of 30.6% (95% CI, 29.2%-32.0%). South America (3 studies, 5716 individuals) and North America (4 studies, 18,236 individuals) had the highest NAFLD prevalence at 35.7% (95% CI, 34.0%-37.5%) and 35.3% (95% CI, 25.4%-45.9%), respectively. From 1991 to 2019, trend analysis showed NAFLD increased from 21.9% to 37.3% (yearly increase of 0.7%, P < .0001), with South America showing the most rapid change of 2.7% per year, followed by Europe at 1.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite regional variation, the global prevalence of NAFLD is increasing overall. Policy makers must work toward reversing the current trends by increasing awareness of NAFLD and promoting healthy lifestyle environments.

Sex-specific metabolic risk factors and their trajectories towards the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease incidence

PURPOSE

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease. This study examined sex-specific associations between NAFLD and metabolic factors and investigated the trajectory of risk factors.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated 16,140 individuals from Beijing Health Management Cohort. Univariate and multivariate time-dependent Cox regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for new-onset NAFLD. The trajectory of risk factors was investigated using the latent growth curve model and growth mixture model.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 3.15 years, 2,450 (15.18%) participants developed NAFLD. The risk factors for NAFLD in men were increased body mass index (BMI); waist circumference (WC); triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), haemoglobin (Hb), and serum uric acid (SUA) levels; and platelet (PLT) count and decreased serum creatinine-to-body weight (sCr/bw) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. In women, the risk factors were increased BMI, WC, and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), TG, LDL-C, SUA, white blood cell (WBC), and PLT and decreased sCr/bw and HDL-C levels. In addition, BMI, LDL-C, sCr/bw and PLT changing trajectories were associated with NAFLD in men; BMI, WC, TG, LDL-C, SUA and sCr/bw trends was associated with NAFLD risk in women.

CONCLUSIONS

Development of NAFLD is associated with BMI, LDL-C, sCr/bw and PLT changing trajectories in men; BMI, WC, TG, LDL-C, SUA and sCr/bw trends are associated an increased risk of NAFLD in women. Deterioration of metabolic risk factors status can be a predictor of NAFLD many years before its occurrence.

Relationship between creatinine to body weight ratios and diabetes mellitus: A Chinese cohort study

BACKGROUND

Research on the relationship between creatinine to body weight ratios (Cre/BW ratios) and the prevalence of diabetes is still lacking. The intention of this research was to explore the potential relationship between Cre/BW ratio and diabetes prevalence in Chinese adults.

METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted on 199 526 patients in the Chinese Rich Healthcare Group from 2010 to 2016. The participants were divided into four groups on the basis of the quartiles of the Cre/BW ratios. Multivariate multiple imputation and dummy variables were used to handle missing values. Multivariate regression analysis was applied to detect the relationship between Cre/BW and diabetes. A smoothing plot was also used to identify whether there were nonlinear relationships.

RESULTS

After handling missing values and adjusting for potential confounders, the multivariate Cox regression analysis results showed that Cre/BW was inversely correlated with diabetes risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.268; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.229-0.314, p < 0.00001). For men, the HR of incident diabetes was 0.255 (95% CI: 0.212-0.307) and for women it was 0.297 (95% CI: 0.218-0.406). Moreover, sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of the results. Furthermore, the smoothing plot revealed that there was a saturation effect between Cre/BW and the incidence of diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that increased Cre/BW is negatively correlated with diabetes in Chinese adults. It also found that Cre/BW has a nonlinear relationship with the incidence of diabetes.

Distinctive clinical and genetic features of lean vs overweight fatty liver disease using the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

Lean NAFLD may differ from NAFLD found in overweight or obese patients. We used the UK biobank to conduct a cross-sectional study that examined features that distinguish lean NAFLD from overweight or obese NAFLD.

METHODS

MRI-PDFF data were used to identify patients with NAFLD, with NAFLD defined as PDFF ≥ 5%. BMI patient cohorts were identified, with lean defined as a BMI < 25, and overweight or obese defined as a BMI ≥ 25. Variables of interest to fatty liver disease, including single nucleotide polymorphisms, were chosen from the UK biobank data portal. Logistic regression was used to generate models predictive of NAFLD in each cohort.

RESULTS

1007 patients had NAFLD, and of these, 871 had BMI ≥ 25, and 136 BMI < 25. Factors associated with NAFLD in patients with BMI < 25 included male sex, white blood cell count, red blood cell count, triglycerides, ALT, creatinine, visceral adipose tissue, rs58542926 T, and rs738409 G. In contrast, factors associated with NAFLD in patients with BMI ≥ 25 included male sex, waist circumference, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, serum glucose, ALT, creatinine, urate, visceral adipose tissue, rs1260326 T, rs1044498 C, rs58542926 T, and rs738409 G. For lean patients, our generated prediction score had an AUC of 0.92, sensitivity of 0.90 and specificity of 0.81. For overweight or obese patients, the prediction score had an AUC of 0.86, sensitivity of 0.87 and specificity of 0.70.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis suggests that lean and overweight or obese NAFLD are distinct entities. We have developed a risk score incorporating both clinical and genetic factors that accurately classify lean patients with NAFLD, with the potential to serve as a tool for screening purposes.

Creatinine-to-body weight ratio is a predictor of incident diabetes: a population-based retrospective cohort study

PURPOSE

Creatinine to body weight (Cre/BW) ratio is considered the independent risk factor for incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but research on this relationship is limited. The relationship between the Cre/BW ratio and T2DM among Chinse individuals is still ambiguous. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the Cre/BW ratio and the risk of T2DM in the Chinese population.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study from a prospectively collected database. We included a total of 200,658 adults free of T2DM at baseline. The risk of incident T2DM according to Cre/BW ratio was estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, and a two-piece wise linear regression model was developed to find out the threshold effect.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 3.13 ± 0.94 years, a total of 4001 (1.99%) participants developed T2DM. Overall, there was an L-shaped relation of Cre/BW ratio with the risk of incident T2DM (P for non-linearity < 0.001). When the Cre/BW ratio (× 100) was less than 0.86, the risk of T2DM decreased significantly as the Cre/BW ratio increased [0.01 (0.00, 0.10), P < 0.001]. When the Cre/BW ratio (× 100) was between 0.86 and 1.36, the reduction in the risk of developing T2DM was not as significant as before [0.22 (0.12, 0.38), P < 0.001]. In contrast, when the Cre/BW ratio (× 100) was greater than 1.36, the reduction in T2DM incidence became significantly flatter than before [0.73 (0.29,1.8), P = 0.49].

CONCLUSION

There was an L-shaped relation of Cre/BW ratio with incidence of T2DM in general Chinese adults. A negative curvilinear association between Cre/BW ratio and incident T2DM was present, with a saturation effect predicted at 0.86 and 1.36 of Cre/BW ratio (× 100).

Plasma and stool metabolomics to identify microbiota derived-biomarkers of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: effect of PNPLA3 genotype

INTRODUCTION

Non-invasive biomarkers are needed for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), especially for patients at risk of disease progression in high-prevalence areas. The microbiota and its metabolites represent a niche for MAFLD biomarker discovery. However, studies are not reproducible as the microbiota is variable.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to identify microbiota-derived metabolomic biomarkers that may contribute to the higher MAFLD prevalence and different disease severity in Latin America, where data is scarce.

METHODS

We compared the plasma and stool metabolomes, gene patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) rs738409 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), diet, demographic and clinical data of 33 patients (12 simple steatosis and 21 steatohepatitis) and 19 healthy volunteers (HV). The potential predictive utility of the identified biomarkers for MAFLD diagnosis and progression was evaluated by logistic regression modelling and ROC curves.

RESULTS

Twenty-four (22 in plasma and 2 in stool) out of 424 metabolites differed among groups. Plasma triglyceride (TG) levels were higher among MAFLD patients, whereas plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC) and lysoPC levels were lower among HV. The PNPLA3 risk genotype was related to higher plasma levels of eicosenoic acid or fatty acid 20:1 (FA(20:1)). Body mass index and plasma levels of PCaaC24:0, FA(20:1) and TG (16:1_34:1) showed the best AUROC for MAFLD diagnosis, whereas steatosis and steatohepatitis could be discriminated with plasma levels of PCaaC24:0 and PCaeC40:1.

CONCLUSION

This study identified for the first time MAFLD potential non-invasive biomarkers in a Latin American population. The association of PNPLA3 genotype with FA(20:1) suggests a novel metabolic pathway influencing MAFLD pathogenesis.

U-shaped association between the triglyceride-glucose index and the risk of incident diabetes in people with normal glycemic level: A population-base longitudinal cohort study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that a high baseline triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a potential risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, for a low TyG index, findings have been inconsistent. Moreover, the association between the baseline TyG index and incident T2DM in individuals with normal glycemic levels remains unclear. Therefore, this longitudinal study further examined and characterized the association between the baseline TyG index and incident T2DM in Japanese adults with normal glycemic levels. .

METHODS

The participants (7857 men and 6440 women) were selected from the NAGALA (NAfld in the Gifu Area Longitudinal Analysis) study that was conducted from 2004 to 2015. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the associations between baseline TyG index and T2DM incidence, and a two-piecewise linear regression model was used to examine the threshold effect of the baseline TyG index on incident T2DM using a smoothing function.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up period of 5.26 (women) and 5.88 (men) years, 47 women and 182 men developed T2DM. The risk of T2DM was strongly associated with the baseline TyG index in the fully adjusted model in men but not in women, and no dose-dependent positive relationship between incident T2DM and the TyG index was observed across the TyG tertiles. Interestingly, the two-piecewise linear regression analysis revealed a U-shaped association between the baseline TyG index and incident T2DM. Baseline TyG index lower than the threshold values (TyG index < 7.27 in women and <7.97 in men) were negatively associated with incident T2DM (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.01-0.93, P = 0.0435 for women and HR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.08-0.57, P = 0.0021 for men). In contrast, baseline TyG index higher than the threshold values (TyG index > 7.27 in women and >7.97 in men) were positively associated with incident T2DM (HR = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.20-6.34, P = 0.0166 for women and HR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.66-3.53, P < 0.0001 for men).

CONCLUSIONS

A U-shaped association was observed between the baseline TyG index and incident T2DM in a Japanese population.

Serum lipocalin-2 is a potential biomarker for the clinical diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) characterized by hepatic steatosis, inflammation, hepatocellular injury, and fibrosis. We aimed to investigate the usefulness of a key biomarker, lipocalin-2 (LCN2), for the detection of NASH progression.

METHODS

A mouse NASH model was established using a high-fat diet and a high-sugar drinking water. Gene expression profile of the NASH model was analyzed using RNA sequencing. Moreover, 360 NAFLD patients (steatosis, 83; NASH, 277), 40 healthy individuals, and 87 patients with alcoholic fatty liver disease were recruited.

RESULTS

Inflammatory infiltration, focal necrosis in the leaflets, steatosis, and fibrosis were documented in the mouse liver. In total, 504 genes were differentially expressed in the livers of NASH mice, and showed significant functional enrichment in the inflammation-related category. Upregulated liver LCN2 was found to be significantly interactive with various interleukins and toll-like receptors. Serum LCN2 levels were significantly increased in NAFLD patients. Serum LCN2 levels were correlated with steatosis, intralobular inflammation, semiquantitative fibrosis score, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score. The area under the curve of serum LCN2 was 0.987 with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 93.5% for NASH diagnosis, and 0.977 with almost the same specificity and sensitivity for steatosis.

CONCLUSION

LCN2 might be involved in the transition from NAFL to NASH by mediating inflammation. Serum LCN2 levels might be a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of NASH.

Evolution of liver fibrosis and steatosis markers in patients with type 2 diabetes after metformin treatment for 2 years

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) share pathophysiological mechanism. Metformin is a widely used first-line anti-diabetic drug. We investigated the evolution of liver fibrosis and steatosis during 2-year use of metformin in patients with T2DM.

METHODS

Between 2006 and August 2010, patients newly diagnosed with T2DM who received metformin as the first-line treatment were recruited. Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) > 2.67 and hepatic steatosis index (HSI) > 36.0 was used to define advanced liver fibrosis and fatty liver, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 1292 (mean age 60.8 years, 57% men and 43% women) patients were recruited. The mean FIB-4 and HSI scores were 1.38 and 27.3, respectively. At enrollment, 83 (6.4%) patients had advanced liver fibrosis and 429 (33.2%) had fatty liver. After 2 years of metformin treatment, the mean FIB-4 score increased from 1.38 to 1.51 (p < 0.001), whereas the mean HSI score decreased from 27.3 to 26.5 (p < 0.001). During follow-up, advanced liver fibrosis additionally developed in 52/1209 (4.3%) patients, whereas 48/83 (57.8%) experienced fibrosis regression. Older age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.007), lower platelet count (OR = 0.993), and lower serum albumin (OR = 0.325) were independently associated with the increased risk of advanced liver fibrosis development after 2-years of metformin treatment.

CONCLUSION

In our cohort of patients with metformin treatment, a small proportion of patients developed liver fibrosis and steatosis after 2 years. Optimized follow-up strategy is required according to different risk of liver fibrosis progression in patients with T2DM.

Creatinine to Body Weight Ratio Is Associated with Incident Diabetes: Population-Based Cohort Study

We investigated the association between creatinine to body weight (Cre/BW) ratio and incident diabetes. In this cohort study, 9659 men and 7417 women were follow up mean (SD) 5.6 (3.5) years and 5.4 (3.4) years, respectively. For men, tertile 1 (T1; n = 3176), Cre/BW < 0.01275; tertile 2 (T2; n = 3258), 0.01275 ≤ Cre/BW < 0.0148; and tertile 3 (T3; n = 3225), Cre/BW ≥ 0.0148; and for women, T1 (n = 2437), Cre/BMI < 0.0118; T2 (n = 2516), 0.0118 ≤ Cre/BMI < 0.014; and T3 (n = 2477), Cre/BMI ≥ 0.014. Among them, 362 men and 102 women developed diabetes. The hazard ratios (HRs) of incident diabetes in the T2 group was 0.56 (95% CI 0.44–0.71, p < 0.001) in men and 0.61 (0.38–0.99, p = 0.045) in women and in the T3 group was 0.42 (0.32–0.54, p < 0.001) in men and 0.55 (0.34–0.89, p = 0.014) in women after adjusting for covariates, compared with the T1 group. Moreover, Δ0.001 incremental of Cre/BW is negatively associated with incident diabetes (adjusted HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.80–0.88, p < 0.001 for men and 0.88, 0.81–0.96, p = 0.003 for women). In conclusion, Cre/BW ratio is inversely related to incident diabetes. Checking Cre/BW ratios may predict future diabetes risks.

A Low Creatinine to Body Weight Ratio Predicts the Incident Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Nonelderly Chinese without Obesity and Dyslipidemia: A Retrospective Study

AIM

A lower ratio of creatinine to body weight (Cr/BW) is considered the independent risk factor for incident nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the relationship between the Cr/BW ratio and NAFLD among individuals without obesity and dyslipidemia and how this relationship is impacted by age are still ambiguous. Therefore, we explored the effect of the Cr/BW ratio on the incident NAFLD among Chinese without obesity and dyslipidemia of different age groups.

METHODS

A total of 9756 participants without NAFLD at baseline were included and grouped by the median value (1.32) of the Cr/BW ratio. Then, a further analysis was stratified by age (60 years old). The primary outcome was new-onset NAFLD.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 2.76 years, 844 (8.7%) participants developed NAFLD. The elderly had a higher person-years incidence rate and cumulative incidence rate than the nonelderly. A high Cr/BW ratio showed a lower cumulative incidence compared to a low Cr/BW ratio for the whole population (P = 0.039) and the nonelderly group (P = 0.008). After being adjusted for multivariate variables, the lower Cr/BW ratio was the independent risk factor for incident NAFLD in the nonelderly (HR 0.718, 95% CI 0.548-0.942), instead of the elderly.

CONCLUSIONS

The Cr/BW ratio has a negative relationship with incident NAFLD among nonobese Chinese without dyslipidemia before the age of 60.