[Non-alcoholic fatty liver, high sensitivity C reactive protein and insulin resistance]

To explore the relationship among non-acoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), high sensitivity reactive C protein (hsCRP) and insulin resistance.

Workers of an enterprise in Changsha for health examination in Second Xiangya Hospital from October to December, 2006, NAFLD group (243 patients) and a control group without fatty liver disease (361 patients) were randomly drawn. Questionnaire, physical examination, fasting plasma glucose, serum lipid-profile, alanine aminotransferase (ALT),blood uric acid, and abdominal ultrasonographic examination were undertaken in the 2 groups.

The moderate NAFLD group had significantly higher hsCRP concentration and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as compared with the mild NAFLD group (P<0.01). The patients with insulin resistance had significantly higher hsCRP concentration and ALT level compared with NAFLD patients without insulin resistance (P<0.05). The NAFLD patients were divided into 2 groups (low and high) according to the hsCRP concentration (<1 mg/L or > or = 1 mg/L). Compared with the low concentration group, the odds ratio of the high concentration group for prevalence of NAFLD was 5.937(P<0.001). Multi-factor logistic regression analysis demonstrated that NAFLD was independently correlated with hsCRP or HOMA-IR after adjustment for sex, age and metabolic components (OR=2.044, 7.896,P<0.01).

NAFLD is closely correlated with hsCRP and HOMA-IR. Insulin resistance and elevated hsCRP concentration are the independent risk factors for the presence of NAFLD.