Determination of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance rate among adults with ultrasound diagnosed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Metabolic syndrome (MS) has close association with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and is characterized by insulin insensitivity, central obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and high glucose levels. This study aimed to define the prevalence of MS, insulin resistance and diabetes among subjects with NAFLD. Patients and method: In a tertiary center, patients diagnosed to have fatty liver disease by ultrasound were included. Cases with drug and/or alcohol use and liver diseases were excluded. Anthropometric measures were applied. Fasting glucose, insulin, c-peptide and transaminase levels were measured. Oral glucose tolerance test was applied to all cases. Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) index was calculated. Insulin resistance was defined as HOMA-IR ≥2.7. ATP III criteria were applied for diagnosis of MS. 230 patients were enrolled. 141 patients (61.3%) were female. Mean age was 50.3±10 (18-95) years. Mean body-mass index (BMI) was 30.5±10.6 (18-50). Mean HOMA index was 3.3±2.6 (0.5-26.5). Impaired fasting glycemia was diagnosed in 78 (33.9%) patients, while impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes were diagnosed in 65 (28.3%) and 51 (22.1%) patients, respectively. MS prevalence among patients with NAFLD was 56.5%. MS was present in 73.2% of patients with HOMA index ≥ 2.7. Independently from BMI, insulin resistance is high in patients with NAFLD. Transaminase levels did not change with MS among NAFLD patients. NAFLD is associated with increased prevalence rate for metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.