Serum zinc level and hepatic fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum zinc level and hepatic fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A cross-sectional study was conducted using nationally representative samples from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010. Significant hepatic fibrosis was defined as Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index>1.3. Zinc level was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess risk factors for significant hepatic fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. A total of 300 patients with NAFLD were analyzed in this study. The mean serum zinc level was 139.8±29.9 μg/dL. FIB-4 index was significantly increased as the serum zinc level decreased (Adjusted correlation coefficient = -0.177, p = 0.003). Significant liver fibrosis was observed in 62 patients (21%). The multivariable analysis showed that significant liver fibrosis in NAFLD was associated with diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR], 3.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71–6.19; p<0.001), male (OR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.31–5.12; p = 0.006), and zinc level <140 μg/dL (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.16–3.94; p = 0.015). There was an inverse relationship between serum zinc level and FIB-4 index in NAFLD. Low levels of serum zinc were an independent risk factor for significant hepatic fibrosis in NAFLD.