Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis in young adult men. Issue 2 (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ozturk, Kadir; Uygun, Ahmet; Guler, Ahmet Kerem; Demirci, Hakan; Ozdemir, Cafer; Cakir, Mehmet; Sakin, Yusuf Serdar; Turker, Turker; Sari, Sebahattin; Demirbas, Seref; Karslıoğlu, Yıldırım; Saglam, Mutlu
• Is Part Of: Atherosclerosis. Volume 240:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 380
• Page End: 386
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease -- Arterial stiffness -- Carotid intima media thickness -- Flow mediated dilatation; Arteriosclerosis -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.136
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2015.04.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9150

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: The possible cause of accelerated atherosclerosis in NAFLD may be the relationship with the MetS and its components. Our primary goal was to evaluate the relationship between NAFLD and subclinical atherosclerosis in adult male patients between 20 and 40 years of age. Moreover, we aimed to investigate the changes in this association according to the presence or absence of MetS. Method: Sixty-one male patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 41 healthy male volunteers were enrolled. In order to exclude any interference of confounding factors, we studied a specifically selected group with no additional cardiovascular risk. PWV, CIMT and FMD levels were measured in all patients and controls. Results: The levels of cf-PWV were significantly higher in SS and NASH patients compared to the control group (P < 0.001); no significant difference was found between SS and NASH patients (P > 0.05). We found significantly decreased FMD levels in patients with SS and NASH compared with control subjects (P < 0.001). Subjects with NASH had significantly greater CIMT measurements than the SS and controls (P = 0.026, P < 0.001, respectively). Although, NAFLD patients with MetS had increased cf-PWV and CIMT and reduced FMD compared to healthy subjects (P < 0.05), no significant difference existed between NAFLD with Mets and NAFLD without MetS in terms of cf-PWV, CIMT and FMD (P > 0.05) Conclusion: The present study showed that the presence of NAFLD leads to increased risk of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis in adult male patients, independent of MetS. Highlights: Insuline resistance and subclinical inflammation have a key role in pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with atherosclerosis. Measurement of arterial stifness, intima media thickness, and endothelial function is predictor for cardiovascular disease. The association between NAFLD and atherosclerosis is independent of cardiovascular risk factors and presence of Mets.