Normal serum alanine aminotransferase activity in uncomplicated obesity

doi:10.3748/wjg.v11.i38.6018

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Oct 14, 2005 (publication date) through Nov 23, 2024

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World Journal of Gastroenterology

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1007-9327

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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 14, 2005; 11(38): 6018-6021
Published online Oct 14, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i38.6018

Normal serum alanine aminotransferase activity in uncomplicated obesity

Gianluca Iacobellis, Antonio Moschetta, Maria Cristina Ribaudo, Alessandra Zappaterreno, Concetta Valeria Iannucci, Frida Leonetti

Gianluca Iacobellis, Maria Cristina Ribaudo, Alessandra Zappaterreno, Concetta Valeria Iannucci, Frida Leonetti, Endocrinology, Department of Clinical Sciences, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

Gianluca Iacobellis, Center for Human Nutrition, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

Antonio Moschetta, Clinica Medica “Augusto Murri”, Department of Internal and Public Medicine, University of Bari, Italy

Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.

Correspondence to: Dr. Gianluca Iacobellis, MD, PhD,Dipartimento Scienze Cliniche,Università La Sapienza,Policlinico I, Viale del Policlinico 155,00161,Roma, Italy, gianluca.iaco@tin.it

Telephone: +39-6-44240932 Fax: +39-6-44240932

Received: January 12, 2005
Revised: March 20, 2005
Accepted: March 23, 2005
Published online: October 14, 2005

Abstract

AIM: To evaluate serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in a well-characterized group of uncomplicated obese subjects and its correlation with insulin resistance, plasma adiponectin, and leptin concentrations.

METHODS: One hundred and five uncomplicated obese subjects (87 women, 18 men, age 34.3±9.6 years, BMI 39.9±8.3 kg/m²) were studied. Serum ALT activity was evaluated. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp (M index) and fasting insulin. Plasma leptin and adiponectin levels were also measured.

RESULTS: Serum ALT concentration in the whole group of uncomplicated obese subjects was 17.73±6.33 U/L with none of the subjects presenting ALT levels greater than 43 U/L and only 9 (11%) women and 3 (19%) men showed ALT levels >19 and >30 U/L for women and men, respectively. No significant difference was detected in serum ALT levels between severe obese subjects (BMI >40 kg/m²) and those with BMI <40 kg/m² (18.63±6.25 vs 17.26±6.02 U/L). ALT was significantly correlated with fasting insulin (r = 0.485, P = 0.02) and triglycerides (r = 0.358, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION: Serum ALT activity is practically normal in uncomplicated obese subjects, independently of their obesity degree. These findings suggest the role of obesity-related comorbidities and not of BMI as main risk factors for elevated ALT levels in obese subjects.

Keywords: Serum alanine aminotransferase activity; Obesity; Insulin resistance