The Comparison of Simple Anthropometric and Biochemical Parameters for Predicting Liver Steatosis in Obese Balinese Young Women

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing globally. Early identification of liver steatosis (LS) status is critical to prevent the development of NAFLD into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) fibrosis. AIM: This study aimed at exploring the validity of simple anthropometric and biochemical parameters to predict LS in young obese women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving 132 young obese women. We collected the data of measured waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), serum triglyceride (TG), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). The lipid accumulation product (LAP) was designed from TG and WC variables. Fatty liver index (FLI) was calculated from TG, BMI, WC, and GGT variables. LS status was measured using ultrasonography assay. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: A positive correlation was found between BMI, WC, TG, GGT, LAP, FLI, and LS (p = 0.001). We found that BMI is a better predictor for LS to WC. Our multiple linear regression analysis revealed that BMI, GGT, and TG could predict 41.4% of LS. The validity (specificity, sensitivity, and odds ratio) of simple body fat parameters in predicting LS were as follows: BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2) (69.6%, 74.4%, and 6.21), WC ≥ 90 cm (67.4%, 70.0%, and 4.28), TG ≥ 100 mg/dL (70.6%, 70.0%, and 5.62) and GGT ≥ 20 μg/L (69.6%, 77.5%, and 7.87), as well as LAP ≥ 30 (82.6%, 70.0%, and 11.1), and FLI ≥ 2.5 (79.3%, 72.5%, and 10.1), significantly. CONCLUSION: Simple anthropometric and biochemical parameters (BMI, WC, and TG, GGT), are appropriately predicting LS as well as LAP, and FLI among obese Balinese young women.