Serum liver enzymes and diabetes from the Rafsanjan cohort study

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the relation between ALT, AST, GGT and ALP with diabetes in the Rafsanjan Cohort Study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is a cross-sectional research including 9991 adults participated via sampling. We used data obtained from the Rafsanjan Cohort Study (RCS), as a part of the prospective epidemiological research studies in IrAN (PERSIAN). Elevated serum levels of ALT, AST, GGT and ALP were defined according to the reference range of the laboratory in the cohort center. Serum liver enzymes levels within the normal range were categorized into quartiles, and their relationship with diabetes was evaluated by logistic regressions. FINDINGS: In present study, elevated serum levels of ALT, AST, GGT, and ALP were associated with increased odds of diabetes (adjusted ORs: 1.81, 95%CI 1.51–2.17; 1.75, 95%CI 1.32–2.32; 1.77, 95%CI 1.50–2.08; 1.60, 95%CI 1.35–1.90 respectively). Also, in subjects with normal levels of ALT, GGT and ALP, a dose–response increase was shown for diabetes. CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of ALT, AST, GGT and ALP are related to a higher odds of diabetes. Also, increased levels of ALT, GGT and ALP even within normal range were independently related with the increased odds of diabetes. These results indicated the potential of elevated liver enzymes as biomarkers for the possible presence of diabetes. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12902-022-01042-2.