Higher cardiovascular risks in type 2 diabetic patients with raised alanine aminotransferase

According to the alanine aminotransferase (ALT)level, 4 509 patients were assigned into group A (n=449, with raised ALT)and group B (n=4 060, normal ALT). Between the patients of group A and B, differences existed in age [(48.5 ± 11.3 vs 55.7 ± 11.4) years, P＜0.01], duration of diabetes [( 36.8 ±45.0 vs 56.2±58.8 ) months, P＜0. 01], body mass index[BMI, (27.7±3.9 vs 25.8±3.4) kg/m2, P＜0.01], waist-tohip ratio (0.95±0.06 vs 0. 93±0.07, P＜0. 01 ), diastolic blood pressure [( 78± 10 vs 75± 10) mm Hg, 1 mm Hg=0. 133 kPa, P＜0. 01], fasting blood glucose [(9.04±2.91 vs 8.63 ±3.05 ) mmol/L, P = 0. 008], 2 h blood glucose after meal[( 13.85±4.67 vs 13.07 ± 4. 92 ) mmol/L, P=0. 002], HbA1c(8. 11% ± 1.82% vs 7.74% ±1.96%, P＜0. 01 ), fasting serum insulin[( 10.59±7.31 vs 7.97±7.18) mU/L, P＜0. 01], postprandial insulin [(48.96±43.80 vs 35.25 ±32.37 ) mU/L, P＜0. 01], homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance ( HOMA-IR, 4.11±-2.85 vs 3.00 ± 2.92, P＜ 0. 01 )、 triglycerides [( 2.77 ± 2.50 vs 2. 19 ± 2.99 ) mmol/L, P＜0. 01], and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C, ( 1.20 ± 0. 30 vs 1.29 ± 0. 83 ) mmol/L, P = 0. 01].Logistic regression analysis showed that HbA1C, postprandial insulin, and HOMA-IR, uric acid and urinary albumin were positively, and HDL-C negatively related with the ALT level. It suggests that raised ALT seems to be an index related to the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors, insulin resistance, and earlier onset of type 2 diabetes. Key words: Diabetes mellitus;  Alanine aminotransferase;  Cardiovascular risk factors;  Dyslipidemia; Obesity