Clinical Research
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 7, 2005; 11(45): 7109-7117
Published online Dec 7, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i45.7109
Table 1 Clinical and laboratory characteristics of all the patients, according to liver enzyme tertiles (left); associations of the variables listed with liver enzyme levels, as a continuous variable, by unadjusted linear regression analyses (right)
AST1st tertile ( ≤14 U/L)2nd tertile (>14 ≤19 U/L)3rd tertile (>19 U/L)β; 95%CI
Number452440447
Age (yr)54.0±5.854.7±5.855.0±5.50.08; 0.0020.15
Male (%)31.934.147.21.88; 1.002.76
Alcoholics (%)41.645.051.81.28; 0.422.14
Alcohol (g/day within drinkers)14.4±8.715.8±8.916.3±8.50.03; -0.050.11
Ever smokers (%)48.340.241.4-0.41; -1.270.45
BMI (kg/m2)26.3±5.126.1±4.427.1±4.90.13; 0.040.22
Waist (cm)88.6±13.489.3±12.492.5±13.00.09; 0.060.12
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)132.1±15.3132.8±16.2134.8±16.30.034; 0.0070.06
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)82.3±8.782.9±9.583.7±9.60.05;-0.020.078
Uric acid (mmol/L)178.4±53.5190.3±59.5208.2±59.50.04;-0.0070.087
Insulin (pmol/L)10.2 (0.6-259.8)10.8 (1.2-137.4)11.4 (0.6-409.8)0.74; 0.261.22
HOMA insulin resistance (mU/mL×mmol/L)0.40 (0.02-31.8)0.44 (0.05-16.6)0.47 (0.02-25.9)0.74; 0.301.18
Fasting glucose (mmol/L)5.8±1.95.6±1.25.9±1.70.27; 0.00.54
HDL-cholesterol (mmol/L)1.6±0.41.6±0.41.6±0.4-0.46;-1.690.77
Triglycerides (mmol/L)1.2 (0.5-5.2)1.3 (0.6-8.7)1.4 (0.4-5.4)1.45; 0.52.5
Hs-CRP (mg/L)1.40 (0.20-50.8)1.30 (0.20-49.5)1.60 (0.10-130.9)0.33;-0.070.73
Metabolic syndrome (%)20.119.326.41.54; 0.52.6
ALT1st tertile ( ≤14 U/L)2nd tertile(>14 ≤22 U/L)3rd tertile(>22 U/L)β; 95%CI
Number444459436
Age (yr)53.8±5.955.2±5.754.6±5.40.03; -0.090.16
Male (%)23.435.155.05.1; 3.76.6
Alcoholics (%)45.544.248.70.97; -0.462.4
Alcohol (g/day within drinkers)15.2±8.416.0±9.015.5±8.80.03; -0.100.17
Ever smokers (%)42.942.344.9-0.07; -1.51.4
BMI (kg/m2)25.0±4.526.6±4.628.0±4.90.69; 0.550.83
Waist (cm)85.4±12.989.7±12.195.3±12.30.29; 0.230.35
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)131.1±16.0133.0±15.3135.5±16.30.09; 0.050.13
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)81.7±9.382.8±8.884.4±9.50.15; 0.070.23
Uric acid (mmol/L)172.5±53.5190.3±53.5214.1±59.50.05; 0.040.06
Insulin (pmol/L)10.2 (0.6-151.2)10.8 (0.6-409.8)15.0 (0.6-244.2)3.4; 2.64.2
HOMA insulin resistance (mU/mL×mmol/L)0.38 (0.02-14.3)0.43 (0.02-31.8)0.63 (0.02-19.9)3.5; 2.84.2
Fasting glucose (mmol/L)5.5±1.45.6±1.26.1±2.11.5; 1.11.9
HDL-cholesterol (mmol/L)1.6±0.41.6±0.31.5±0.3-6.8; -8.8-4.8
Triglycerides (mmol/L)1.2 (0.5-8.0)1.3 (0.4-8.7)1.5 (0.5-5.4)5.8; 4.27.4
Hs-CRP (mg/L)1.10 (0.10-50.8)1.40 (0.20-49.5)1.60 (0.10-130.91.4; 0.82.1
Metabolic syndrome (%)12.821.132.15.5; 3.87.2
GGT1st tertile ( ≤12 U/L)2nd tertile (>12 ≤20 U/L)3rd tertile(>20 U/L)β; 95%CI
Number412460467
Age (yr)53.6±5.554.8±5.855.1±5.70.009; 0.0030.015
Male (%)15.538.956.10.43; 0.370.50
Alcoholics (%)36.647.952.70.15; 0.080.22
Alcohol (g/day within drinkers)14.1±7.915.0±9.016.9±8.80.013; 0.0070.019
Ever smokers (%)36.943.648.80.13; 0.060.20
BMI (kg/m2)24.9±4.226.7±4.727.7±5.00.03; 0.020.04
Waist (cm)84.4±12.590.4±12.494.8±12.20.016; 0.0140.018
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)129.7±15.0133.4±15.4136.1±16.80.006; 0.0040.008
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)81.5±8.782.8±9.384.4±9.60.009; 0.0050.013
Uric acid (mmol/L)166.5±47.6190.3±59.5214.1±59.50.0037;0.0030.004
Insulin (pmol/L)10.2 (0.6-120.0)10.8 (1.2-409.8)13.8 (0.6-396.0)0.13; 0.090.17
HOMA insulin resistance (mU/mL×mmol/L)0.37 (0.02-5.13)0.43 (0.04-25.9)0.60 (0.02-31.8)0.14; 0.100.18
Fasting glucose (mmol/L)5.4±1.15.7±1.46.1±2.10.09; 0.070.11
HDL-cholesterol (mmol/L)1.7±0.31.6±0.31.5±0.3-0.32;-0.22-0.42
Triglycerides (mmol/L)1.1 (0.4-4.4)1.3 (0.4-8.7)1.5 (0.6-8.0)0.44; 0.360.52
Hs-CRP (mg/L)1.00 (0.10-20.0)1.40 (0.20-50.8)1.80 (0.20-130.9)0.12; 0.090.15
Metabolic syndrome (%)11.620.232.80.35; 0.270.43
Table 2 Clinical and laboratory characteristics of the subjects with normal BMI and without any component of the metabolic syndrome, according to the tertile of liver enzyme concentrations (left); associations of the variables listed with liver enzyme levels, as a continuous variable, by unadjusted linear regression analyses (right)
AST1st tertile ( ≤13 U/L)2nd tertile (>13 ≤17 U/L)3rd tertile (>17 U/L)β; 95%CI
Number676969
Age (yr)52.2±5.552.5±5.752.1±5.10.001;-0.160.16
Male (%)22.434.842.00.8; -1.02.6
Alcoholics (%)47.847.856.51.2; -0.52.9
Alcohol (g/day within drinkers)15.5±9.113.8±9.018.5±9.10.05; -0.070.18
Ever smokers (%)47.839.144.9-0.63;-2.351.09
BMI (kg/m2)21.8±2.022.1±1.922.1±2.10.07;-0.350.49
Waist (cm)76.3±8.178.4±7.875.3±5.60.08;-0.020.18
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)117.4±7.7116.7±7.4116.6±9.1-0.05;-0.150.05
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)74.9±6.075.1±5.875.3±5.6-0.01;-0.160.14
Uric acid (mmol/L)154.6±47.6160.6±41.6172.5±53.50.014;-0.0040.03
Insulin (pmol/L)6.0 (0.6-49.2)9.6 (1.2-108.6)9.0 (3.0-72.0)0.41;-0.901.72
HOMA insulin resistance (mU/mL´mmol/L)0.25 (0.02-2.08)0.34 (0.05-5.40)0.30 (0.10-2.28)0.48;-0.851.81
Fasting glucose (mmol/L)5.1±0.45.1±0.55.2±0.70.84;-0.682.36
HDL-cholesterol (mmol/L)1.8±0.31.7±0.41.8±0.31.73;-0.734.19
Triglycerides (mmol/L)1.0 (0.5-1.7)1.1 (0.6-1.7)1.0 (0.4-1.7)-0.48;-3.652.69
Hs-CRP (mg/L)0.80 (0.10-20.0)0.60 (0.20-12.6)0.70 (0.20-8.90)-0.16;-0.960.64
ALT1st tertile ( ≤12 U/L)2nd tertile (>12 ≤17 U/L)3rd tertile (>17 U/L)β; 95%CI
Number666772
Age (yr)51.9±5.552.3±5.452.6±5.5-0.04; -0.290.21
Male (%)15.135.847.24.43; 1.577.29
Alcoholics (%)45.450.755.62.02; -0.724.76
Alcohol (g/day within drinkers)14.8±9.316.7±9.116.6±9.40.03; -0.20.26
Ever smokers (%)47.046.338.9-1.10; -3.861.66
BMI (kg/m2)21.8±2.121.5±2.122.6±1.70.55; -0.131.23
Waist (cm)76.8±7.275.4±8.881.2±7.30.23; 0.070.39
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)115.2±9.0117.4±6.3117.9±8.40.09; -0.080.26
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)75.3±6.374.0±5.375.9±5.70.15; -0.080.38
Uric acid (mmol/L)154.6±41.6160.6±53.5172.5±47.60.035; 0.0080.06
Insulin (pmol/L)7.5 (0.6-108.6)9.6 (2.4-49.2)8.4 (1.2-72.0)1.24; -0.883.36
HOMA insulin resistance (mU/mL´mmol/L)0.29 (0.02-5.40)0.34 (0.09-2.08)0.30 (0.05-2.56)1.41; -0.733.54
Fasting glucose (mmol/L)5.2±0.65.0±0.55.2±0.61.43; -1.023.88
HDL-cholesterol (mmol/L)1.8±0.31.7±0.41.7±0.4-2.07; -6.051.91
Triglycerides (mmol/L)0.9 (0.5-1.7)1.0 (0.4-1.5)1.0 (0.4-1.7)0.91; -4.226.04
Hs-CRP (mg/L)0.80 (0.10-20.0)0.50 (0.20-17.8)0.95 (0.20-12.6)1.15; -0.122.42
GGT1st tertile ( ≤10 U/L)2nd tertile (>10 ≤16 U/L)3rd tertile (>16 U/L)β; 95%CI
Number687166
Age (yr)51.7±5.252.3±5.652.8±5.50.009; -0.0080.026
Male (%)17.629.653.00.48; 0.290.66
Alcoholics (%)36.854.960.60.24; 0.060.42
Alcohol (g/day within drinkers)11.2±7.916.6±8.618.6±9.60.012; -0.0020.026
Ever smokers (%)35.345.151.50.14; -0.050.33
BMI (kg/m2)21.7±1.922.0±2.022.3±2.10.034; -0.0120.08
Waist (cm)76.4±7.276.4±8.681.1±7.70.19; 0.180.20
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)116.0±9.0117.3±6.3117.4±8.70.008;-0.0040.02
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)74.6±6.374.9±5.775.8±5.40.012;-0.0040.03
Uric acid (mmol/L)148.7±35.7166.5±41.6178.4±59.50.004; 0.0020.006
Insulin (pmol/L)9.6 (3.0-72.0)9.0 (0.6-63.6)8.4 (1.2-108.6)0.004;-0.140.14
HOMA insulin resistance (mU/mL´mmol/L)0.34 (0.10-2.28)0.30 (0.02-2.56)0.30 (0.04-5.40)0.047; -0.090.18
Fasting glucose (mmol/L)4.8±0.45.1±0.55.5±0.50.35; 0.190.51
HDL-cholesterol (mmol/L)1.8±0.31.7±0.31.7±0.4-0.12; -0.390.15
Triglycerides (mmol/L)0.9 (0.4-1.5)1.0 (0.4-1.7)1.1 (0.7-1.7)0.52; 0.190.85
Hs-CRP (mg/L)0.50 (0.20-8.30)0.80 (0.10-8.90)0.95 (0.20-20.0)0.21; 0.130.29
Table 3 Associations of different clinical and laboratory variables with liver enzyme levels in all the patients (left) and in subjects with normal BMI and without any component of the metabolic syndrome (right) in a multiple regression model
ALL
Normal
BMI and no component of the MS
β
95%CI
β
95%CI
AST
Age0.02-0.060.10-0.015-0.170.14
Male0.58-0.541.70-0.70-3.051.65
Ever smoking-1.06-2.160.04-0.54-2.341.26
BMI-0.13-0.290.03-0.25-0.830.33
Waist0.090.030.150.12-0.040.28
G/day alcohol0.040.00.080.07-0.020.16
Hs-CRP-0.015-0.060.03-0.29-0.551.13
HOMA-IR0.25-0.280.770.26-1.111.63
Triglycerides0.17-0.911.25-1.39-4.761.98
Uric acid0.010.00.020.01-0.0090.03
ALT
Age-0.09-0.210.02-0.12-0.370.13
Male3.321.585.063.36-0.327.04
Ever smoking1.13-0.302.56-2.27-5.110.57
BMI0.22-0.010.450.07-0.830.97
Waist0.100.010.190.11-0.140.36
G/day alcohol0.015-0.050.080.03-0.110.17
Hs-CRP-0.04-0.740.661.16-0.152.47
HOMA-IR1.851.032.670.91-1.253.07
Triglycerides2.070.373.77-0.88-6.154.39
Uric acid0.0150.0010.030.01-0.020.04
GGT
Age-0.0004-0.0060.006-0.003-0.0190.013
Male0.290.210.370.310.100.52
Ever smoking0.02-0.040.070.025-0.160.20
BMI-0.0003-0.0120.012-0.02-0.070.04
Waist0.0040.00.0080.0035-0.0120.019
G/day alcohol0.0060.0020.0100.005-0.0030.014
Hs-CRP0.090.050.120.190.110.27
HOMA-IR0.03-0.010.07-0.05-0.190.09
Triglycerides0.210.130.290.26-0.050.57
Uric acid0.00120.00060.00180.0020.00.004