Abnormal liver enzymes in Thai patients with metabolic syndromes

Elevated transaminases have been found to be associated with metabolic syndrome (MS) in many populations but little is known in Asians. The present study aimed to investigate the association between elevated hepatic enzymes in Thai patients diagnosed with MS.

A cross-sectional study on 2,585 Thais was conducted. Blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured. MS was diagnosed using NCEP/ATP III criteria with modified waist circumference for Asian. The association between MS with elevated liver enzymes was performed using logistic regression.

Twenty-seven percent of the subjects were found to have MS. The MS group had significantly higher mean AST, ALT, and ALP levels than the non-MS group (mean (SD) for AST 29.86 (18.97), 24.08 (12.71); ALT 38.39 (29.14), 24.38 (18.57); and ALP 73.45 (27.09), 65.72 (21.27) for MS and non-MS, respectively, p < 0.05). MS was significantly associated with elevated liver enzymes. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) were 2.2 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6-2.9), 2.3 (95% CI: 1.8-3.0), and 2.2 (95% CI: 1.1-4.2) for elevated AST, ALT, and ALP, respectively. ALT/AST ratio of > or = 1 was significantly associated with MS in both genders (adjusted ORs: 1.72 (95% CI: 1.28-2.32) for men and 2.30 (95% CI: 1.68-3.16) for women).

There is a strong association between metabolic syndrome and elevated liver enzymes. Further study is needed to investigate the long-term sequelae of liver abnormalities in those with metabolic syndrome in Thai population.