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Association of serum uric acid level and body mass index between non alcoholic fatty liver disease patients and healthy volunteers

Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered as a hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. Worldwide prevalence of NAFLD is 38%. Serum uric acid level has been suggested to be associated with factors that contribute to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of serum uric acid level and body mass index (BMI) with NAFLD.

Methods This observational study was conducted in subjects, who attended the master health checkup clinic of PSG Hospitals, Coimbatore, on 50 patients with NAFLD and 50 non fatty liver subjects. NAFLD was diagnosed based on the abdominal ultrasonographic findings. BMI and serum uric acid level were also measured in all the study participants. Uric acid quartiles were categorized into four groups, and the number of subjects, who came under each group, was noted.

Results The mean BMI (kg/m²) for cases was 27.01 ± 3.53 and the same for controls was 23.91 ± 3.11. Elevated BMI was associated with an increased incidence of NAFLD with a statistical significance (p < 0.05).The mean uric acid concentration (mg/dl) for cases was 5.73 ± 1.57, and for controls was 4.69 ± 0.91. Increased serum uric acid concentration was associated with an increased incidence of NAFLD with a statistical significance (p < 0.05).

Conclusion This study showed that elevated BMI is associated with an increased incidence of NAFLD. Serum uric acid levels are significantly associated with NAFLD, and high uric acid levels showed a high incidence of NAFLD compared to low serum uric acid level.