Association of serum uric acid level with non-alcohofic fatty fiver disease in health check-up subjects

A cross-sectional study was performed among 5134 health check-up subjects in Tianjin Municipality.Compared with control group [ (274 ± 76)μmol/L],patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) had a higher level of serum uric acid[ (340 ± 81 )μmol/L]. Moreover,in NAFLD patients,along with the increase of the severity of fatty liver from mild,intermediate to severe,the serum levels of uric acid increased from (331 ±78),(347 ± 83) to (377 ±75 ) μmol/L ( F =19.68,P ＜0.01 ).Regression analysis found that sex(β=-0.43 ),serum triglyceride(β =0.53 ),fasting plasma glucose(β =-0.21 )and BMI(β =0.19) were associated with uric acid level in NAFLD patients; but insulin level and homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance were not associated with uric acid level. The results indicate that serum uric acid levels may be used as a biomarker for the severity of NAFLD. Key words: Fatty liver; Uric acid