Modifiable clinical and lifestyle factors are associated with elevated alanine aminotransferase levels in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients: results from the nationwide DD2 study. Issue 8 (November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mor, Anil; Svensson, Elisabeth; Rungby, Jørgen; Ulrichsen, Sinna Pilgaard; Berencsi, Klara; Nielsen, Jens Steen; Stidsen, Jacob Volmer; Friborg, Søren; Brandslund, Ivan; Christiansen, Jens Sandahl; Beck‐Nielsen, Henning; Sørensen, Henrik Toft; Thomsen, Reimar Wernich
• Is Part Of: Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews. Volume 30:Issue 8(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 707
• Page End: 715
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Subjects: Diabetes -- Periodicals; Metabolism -- Periodicals; 616.642
• DOI: 10.1002/dmrr.2539
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1520-7552

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="dmrr2539-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Current literature lacks data on markers of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. We therefore, conducted a cross‐sectional study to examine modifiable clinical and lifestyle factors associated with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels as a marker of NAFLD in new T2DM patients.</p> </sec> <sec id="dmrr2539-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Alanine aminotransferase levels were measured in 1026 incident T2DM patients enrolled in the nationwide Danish Centre for Strategic Research in Type 2 Diabetes (DD2) cohort. We examined prevalence of elevated ALT (>38 IU/L for women and >50 IU/L for men) and calculated prevalence ratios associated with clinical and lifestyle factors using Poisson regression. We examined the association with other biomarkers by linear regression.</p> </sec> <sec id="dmrr2539-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The median value of ALT was 24 IU/L (interquartile range: 18–32 IU/L) in women and 30 IU/L (interquartile range: 22–41 IU/L) in men. Elevated ALT was found in 16% of incident T2DM patients. The risk of elevated ALT was increased in patients who were <40 years old at diabetes debut [adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR): 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15–3.33], in those with alcohol overuse (>14/>21 drinks per week for women/men) (aPR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.03‐2.50), and in those with no regular physical activity (aPR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.04–1.93). Obesity and metabolic syndrome <italic>per se</italic> showed no association with elevated ALT when adjusted for other markers, whereas we found positive associations of ALT with increased C‐peptide (<italic>β</italic> = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06–0.21) and fasting blood glucose (<italic>β</italic> = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.03–0.11).</p> </sec> <sec id="dmrr2539-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Among newly diagnosed T2DM patients, several modifiable clinical and lifestyle factors are independent markers of elevated ALT levels. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </sec> </abstract>