Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Type 2 DM Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver is rendered as one component of metabolic syndrome (MS). We evaluated the prevalence of MS as well as clinical and laboratory characteristics of Type 2 DM patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver. Methods: Fatty liver group (n = 71) who showed significant fatty change by ultrasonography and age, sex matched control group (n = 40) were studied retrospectively. We compared demographic and laboratory findings and prevalence of MS by modified WHO criteria and new IDF criteria between both groups. Results: There were no significant difference in age, DM duration, BMI, prevalence of hypertension, coronary artery disease, CVA, diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy between both groups. In fatty liver group, the plasma level of FBS, TG, ALT, total protein, albumin and GGT were significantly higher than those of control group (P = 0.033, P = 0.000, P = 0.002, P = 0.008, P = 0.003, P = 0.001). The plasma levels of HDL-C in fatty liver group were significantly lower than those of control group (P = 0.013). The plasma level of FBS, FFA, TG, total protein, albumin, ALT, HOMAIR and BMI were significantly related to the severity of fatty liver. The prevalence of MS in fatty liver group was significantly higher than that of control group by modified WHO criteria (P = 0.001) or new IDF criteria (P = 0.036). Conclusion: Type 2 DM patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver frequently accompanied the metabolic syndrome. They showed nonspecific changes in the liver function tests.