Biochemical markers and lipid profile in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients in the PERSIAN Guilan cohort study (PGCS), Iran

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global epidemic that is often asymptomatic and silent, and progresses slowly. This study aimed to determine the biochemical markers and lipid profile among NAFLD patients and their possible relationship with degrees of fatty liver. METHODS: This is analytical cross-sectional study, in which, 950 individuals referred to the PERSIAN Guilan cohort study were included through sequential sampling method. The demographic information and blood pressure of the subjects were taken and the blood sample was prepared to investigate the biochemical markers and lipid profile. Also, abdominal ultrasonography was performed to investigate NAFLD and its grades. For data analysis, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and logistic regression model were used, where P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P < 0.001), hepatic enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], P < 0.001, alanine aminotransferase [ALT], P < 0.001; gamma-glutamyle transferase [GGT], P < 0.001; AST/ALT ratio, P < 0.001), lipid profile (triglyceride [TG], P < 0.001; total cholesterol [TC], P = 0.008; high density lipoprotein [HDL], P < 0.001; LDL-C/HDL-C (ratio), P = 0.003; TC/HDL-C (ratio), P < 0.001); and fasting blood sugar [FBS], P < 0.001 correlated with NAFLD. However, there was no relationship between age (P = 0.34), alkaline phosphatase [ALP] (P = 0.26) and low-density lipoprotein [LDL] (P = 0.72). Further, a significant relationship was observed between AST (P < 0.001), ALT (P < 0.001), and GGT (P = 0.004) and NAFLD degrees based on the ultrasonography. CONCLUSION: Biochemical markers and lipid profile are associated with NAFLD. Thus, it is recommended to investigate NAFLD in clinical settings in cases in which their changes are observed in patients through ultrasonography.