| Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been known as the most frequent type of liver disease, with the
occurrence of 20% to 30% in developed countries and 33.9% in Iran. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence
of fatty liver among high-risk individuals and its predictive factors.
Materials and Methods: This analytic cross-sectional study was performed on 70 men and women, aged 32–62 and BMI
≥25, who were divided into 2 groups: 1) the patient group (n = 45) with positive results of fatty liver disease, and 2) the
healthy group (n = 25). An anthropometry assessment (weight and BMI), blood tests (AST, ALT, FBS, TC, and TG), and
determination of fatty liver grade were done.
Results: In our study, the rate of NAFLD was 64 among 100 susceptible individuals (BMI ≥25).
We found significant differences in sex (P = 0.020), weight (P < 0.001), BMI (P = 0.001), AST (P<0.001), ALT (P < 0.001),
and AST/ALT (P < 0.025) between the groups. A direct association was observed between the increase in BMI and NAFLD
(P = 0.001). In the study of relationship between fatty liver grade, BMI, and biochemical factors, there were significant
differences in mean BMI, weight, AST, ALT, and AST/ALT between patients with NAFLD grades 1 and 3. However, no
significant changes were observed for FBS, TC, and TG between patients with NAFLD grades 1, 2 and 3. Sex, BMI and AST
were estimated as independent predictors of NAFLD. The risk of NAFLD increased in male sex (P = 0.053), by the increment
of BMI (P = 0.002) and AST (P = 0.002) in the study.
Conclusion: This study verified the relationship between NAFLD and obesity, and liver aminotransferase was repeatedly
reported in NAFLD. |