The association between serum folate and ultrasound - defined hepatic steatosis

PURPOSE: It has been discovered that a folate shortage may raise the risk of hepatic steatosis. We investigated the relationship between serum folate and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) among 3606 participants over from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multivariate logistic regression studies were carried out to calculate the relationship between serum folate and CAP. Additionally, generalized additive models and fitted smoothing curves were carried out. RESULTS: After adjusting for other variables, we discovered that serum folate had a negative correlation with CAP. Males and whites maintained a negative correlation of serum folate with CAP when subgroup analyses were stratified by sex and race/ethnicity. The relationship between blood folate levels and CAP in whites had an U-shaped curve (inflection point: 34 ng/ml). CONCLUSION: According to our study, the majority of Americans, particularly men and whites, had a negative correlation between serum folate and CAP. Among white people, this connection followed an U-shaped pattern. These findings may provide guidance for monitoring serum folate level and controlling oral folate dosage in clinic, so as to prevent liver steatosis more effectively. KEY MESSAGES: The size of the cohort in our study is large, and our findings come from a nationally representative database. Our study revealed a negative relationship between serum folate and CAP among most Americans, especially in male and whites, which may provide evidence for medications to treat hepatic steatosis. In whites, the association of serum folate with CAP was an U-shaped curve (inflection point: 34 ng/ml). This may provide guidance for monitoring serum folate level and controlling oral folate dosage in clinic, so as to prevent liver steatosis more effectively.