Relation of osteocalcin with insulin resistance and histopathological changes of non alcoholic fatty liver disease
Journal Title: Annals of Hepatology - Year 2011, Vol 10, Issue 1
Abstract
Background. Osteocalcin is a hormone with a complex cross-talk between adipose tissue and the skeleton. The aim of the present study was to explore the relation of osteocalcin with histopathological changes of NALFD patients. Subjects. A population of 69 NAFLD patients was analyzed. A liver biopsy was realized. Weight, fat mass, body mass index, basal glucose, insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA), total cholesterol, LDLcholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and osteocalcin levels were measured. Results. Patients were divided in two groups by median osteocalcin value (11.34 ng/mL), group I (patients with the low values) and group II (patients with the high values). Only liver fibrosis frequencies were different between groups (group I: 22.9% vs group II: 9.4%; p < 0.05). Patients in group I had higher levels of glucose (115.6 ± 28.1 mg/dL vs. 103.7 ± 24.3 mg/dL; p < 0.04), HOMA (4.6 ± 3.1 units vs. 3.6 ± 1.8 units; p < 0.04), weight (102.9 ± 32.4 kg vs. 85.9 ± 16.8 kg; p = 0.002) and body mass index (38.3 ± 11.4 kg/m2 vs. 30.1 ± 5.7 kg/m2; p = 0.001)) than patients in group II. Osteocalcin was inverse correlated with glucose (r =-0.4; p = 0.002) and HOMA (r = -0.3:p = 0.01). Conclusion. Osteocalcin is associated with liver fibrosis. However, this association disappeared in a multivariate analysis, and HOMA remained as an independent factor.
Authors and Affiliations
Rocio Aller, Jose Luis Perez Castrillon, Daniel de Luis, Olatz Izaola, Manuel González Sagrado, María Concepción Velasco, Tomas Alvarez, David Pacheco
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