Serum 3‐carboxy‐4‐methyl‐5‐propyl‐2‐furanpropanoic acid is associated with lipid profiles and might protect against non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese individuals

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: High plasma 3‐carboxy‐4‐methyl‐5‐propyl‐2‐furanpropanoic acid (CMPF) levels are significantly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, which is usually accompanied by metabolic syndrome and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with increased triglyceride levels. Thus, we hypothesized that elevated CMPF levels might be related to lipid metabolism and NAFLD risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum CMPF levels were determined using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in a total of 466 individuals, including 116 controls with no NAFLD or type 2 diabetes mellitus, 53 individuals with NAFLD but no type 2 diabetes mellitus, 151 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus but no NAFLD, and 146 individuals with both NAFLD and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The associations with age, blood pressure, lipid profiles, body mass index and liver injury marker levels were examined, and a meta‐analysis of non‐diabetic and diabetic groups was carried out to detect the combined effects. RESULTS: The CMPF concentration in NAFLD patients was significantly lower than individuals without NAFLD in both the non‐diabetic group (P < 0.05) and diabetic group (P < 0.01), and correlated negatively with several parameters of liver function and the adiposity index. Meta‐analysis showed that serum CMPF levels was associated with decreased risk of NAFLD after combining the results (odds ratio 0.677, 95% confidence interval 0.552–0.831, P < 0.001). Additionally, the CMPF concentration was independently negatively associated with triglycerides and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol in the meta‐analysis. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that body mass index, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride level, age, sex and fasting plasma glucose were independently associated with CMPF (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that serum CMPF levels are negatively related to lipid metabolism and could be used to predict NAFLD development.