Article

Normal range of alanine aminotransferase concentration is associated with carotid atherosclerosis.

Department of Internal Medicine, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Diabetes research and clinical practice (impact factor: 2.16). 04/2010; 88(1):111-6. DOI:10.1016/j.diabres.2010.01.003 pp.111-6
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT To investigate whether alanine aminotransferase (ALT), even within the reference range, is associated with atherosclerotic burden in apparently healthy adults.
This was an observational study performed on 830 healthy individuals with normal ALT concentration (<or=40U/L). Atherosclerotic burden was assessed by carotid arterial intima-media thickness (IMT). All subjects were divided according to the quartile based on their ALT concentrations.
Despite all subjects having a normal ALT concentration, ultrasonographic liver steatosis was observed in 48.4% and 36.7% of men and women, respectively. In both genders, subjects in the highest quartile of ALT concentration had a significantly higher waist circumference, triglyceride concentration, HOMA-IR, a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome, and a greater severity of ultrasonographic liver steatosis than did those in the lower quartiles. In women, the carotid IMT increased significantly with increasing quartiles of ALT concentration (0.62+/-0.14mm, 0.66+/-0.15mm, 0.69+/-0.15mm, vs. 0.72+/-0.24mm; P for trend<0.001). Based on multivariate regression analysis, the serum ALT, even within the normal range, was associated with the carotid IMT in both men and women, and independently of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
ALT concentrations, albeit within the reference range, were associated with atherosclerotic burden in healthy adults.

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Keywords

830 healthy individuals
 
alanine aminotransferase
 
ALT concentrations
 
Atherosclerotic burden
 
carotid arterial intima-media thickness
 
carotid IMT
 
greater severity
 
healthy adults
 
higher prevalence
 
higher waist circumference
 
highest quartile
 
lower quartiles
 
multivariate regression analysis
 
normal ALT concentration
 
normal range
 
observational study
 
reference range
 
serum ALT
 
traditional cardiovascular risk factors
 
ultrasonographic liver steatosis