Effect of a hypocaloric diet in transaminases in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and obese patients, relation with insulin resistance

• Published in: Diabetes research and clinical practice 2008-01, Vol.79 (1), p.74-78
• Main Authors: de Luis, D.A, Aller, R, Izaola, O, Gonzalez Sagrado, M, Conde, R, Gonzalez, J.M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alanine Transaminase - blood; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Blood Pressure; Body Mass Index; Body Size; Diet, Reducing; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Fatty Liver - blood; Fatty Liver - diet therapy; Fatty Liver - enzymology; Humans; Hypocaloric diet; Insulin resistance; Insulin Resistance - physiology; Lipids - blood; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Obesity; Obesity - diet therapy; Obesity - enzymology
• ISSN: 0168-8227; 1872-8227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2007.07.015

Abstract Objective The aim of our study was to examine the changes in hypertransaminasemia after weight reduction in obese patients with and without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the relation with insulin resistance. Research methods A population of 142 obesity nondiabetic was treated with a hypocaloric diet (1520 kcal) during 3 months. Patients were classified as group I (control, n = 112) when serum (alanine aminotransferase) ALT activity was normal or group II (NAFLD, n = 30) when serum ALT activity was greater than the upper limit of normal reference laboratory (≥43 UI/L). Results In control group, body mass index (BMI) (35.3 ± 5.6 vs. 33.5 ± 5.5: p < 0.05), weight (89.6 ± 17.2 kg vs. 85.6 ± 16.5 kg: p < 0.05) and insulin (15 ± 7.9 mUI/L vs. 13.1 ± 7.4 mUI/L: p < 0.05) levels decreased. In NAFLD group, BMI (37.1 ± 4.2 vs. 35.1 ± 4.6: p < 0.05), weight (101 ± 22 kg vs. 96.4 ± 11.6 kg: p < 0.05), insulin (26.8 ± 8.9 mUI/L vs. 12.7 ± 8.4 mUI/L: p < 0.05) and HOMA (3.1 ± 1.6 vs. 1.9 ± 1.7: p < 0.05) decreased. Liver function improved in both groups (ALT; group I 19.9 ± 4.6 UI/L vs. 18.3 ± 3.9 UI/L: p < 0.05 and group II 37.8 ± 4.2 UI/L vs. 27.1 ± 7.8 UI/L: p < 0.05), (aspartate aminotransferase activity, AST) group I 22.1 ± 8.2 UI/L vs. 19.9 ± 7.1 UI/L: p < 0.05 and group II 73.3 ± 11.3 UI/L vs. 38.1 ± 11.6 UI/L: p < 0.05). Conclusion We showed that weight reduction secondary to a hypocaloric diet were associated with improvement in hypertransaminasemia and insulin resistance in NAFLD patients.