The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between elevated liver tests, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and abdominal adiposity and cardiometabolic risk markers in a group of overweight and obese subjects. A total of 408 patients, 367 women and 41 men, with a mean age of 39±13 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) 34.5±6.0 kg/m2 were included in this study. Results showed that liver tests, especially alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), were associated with intra-abdominal (visceral) adipose tissue. In fact, ALT and GGT were significantly higher in patients with increased intra-abdominal adipose tissue even after adjusting for BMI and hs-CRP. Multiple regression analyses revealed that each liver test had specific independent predictors such as intra-abdominal adiposity and hs-CRP for aspartate aminotransferase (AST), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and hs-CRP for ALT and alkaline phosphatase , triglycerides and intra-abdominal adiposity for GGT. Thus, these results suggest a potential relationship between intra-abdominal adipose tissue and liver tests, especially ALT and GGT, which could imply a possible role of intra-abdominal adiposity in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
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