[A study on fatty liver in health examination participants]

We investigated the condition of the liver in a total of 5486 subjects (3889 males and 1597 females) who received adult-disease screening examinations. The following results were obtained. 1. Fatty liver was found in 13.9% of the males and 3.8% of the females with a male/female ratio of about 3.7 to 1. In males, the prevalence of fatty liver was lower in those in their 20's than in any other age ranks, while there was little difference in the age range from the 30's to the 50's. In females, the prevalence sharply increased in those in their 50's. 2. The percentage of fatty liver increased with the obesity index in both males and females. 3. With respect to alcohol drinking, the prevalence of fatty liver was not affected by the presence or absence of alcohol drinking, the daily drinking quantity and total drinking quantity. 4. Of those screened for adult disease, 14.7% of the males and 2.7% of the females had abnormal liver function, with a male/female ratio of about 5.4 to 1. In both males and females, the prevalence of fatty liver was higher in those who had abnormal rather than normal liver function.