Abstract
Objective: To clarify the present status of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in examinees in overnight Ningen docks of our hospital and obtain parameters for lifestyle interventions in the future, we evaluated impaired fat metabolism, high blood pressure, and fasting hyperglycemia as complications and insulin resistance in examinees with non-fatty liver and those with fatty liver showing a daily alcohol intake of less than 1 go (0.18 l). Methods: Between April and September,2005, there were 862 examinees in overnight Ningen docks of our hospital, of whom 522 after excluding examinees positive for HBs antigen/HCV antibody or showing an alcohol intake of ≥ 1 go (0.18 l) were enrolled in this study. Results: All evaluated items except HDL-C were significantly higher, and HDL-C was significantly lower in the subjects with fatty liver than in those with non-fatty liver. Among the subjects with fatty liver, those with impaired liver function showed a significantly higher fasting immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) than those with normal liver function. Among risk factors such as impaired fatty metabolism, high blood pressure, and fasting hyperglycemia, fasting hyperglycemia most markedly differed between the subjects with non-fatty liver and those with fatty liver associated with normal liver function (2.5-fold difference). Conclusion: In the subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver, the complication rates of risk factors of arteriosclerosis were high. In particular, the subjects with fatty liver accompanied by impaired liver function frequently showed high insulin resistance. Therefore, using insulin resistance as a parameter, lifestyle interventions mainly involving exercise therapy for disease improvement may be necessary.
