Biochemical and Physiological Correlates of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): A Cross-Sectional Observational Study
Association of Metabolic Dysfunction with Fatty Liver Disease
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69750/dmls.02.09.0152Keywords:
NAFLD, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, obesity, biochemical markers, inflammationAbstract
Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, strongly linked to obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Understanding its biochemical and physiological correlates is crucial for early detection and intervention, particularly in South Asian populations with high metabolic risk.
Objective: To evaluate biochemical and physiological correlates of NAFLD and identify predictors of disease severity in Pakistani adults.
Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at two tertiary-care hospitals in Punjab, Pakistan, from February 2024 to February 2025. A total of 100 adults (25–65 years) with ultrasonography-confirmed NAFLD were enrolled. Demographic, anthropometric, and clinical data were recorded. Biochemical parameters included fasting glucose, HbA1c, lipid profile, liver enzymes (ALT, AST), inflammatory markers (CRP, ferritin), and insulin resistance estimated by HOMA-IR. Statistical analysis employed Pearson correlation and logistic regression to identify independent predictors of disease severity.
Results: The mean age was 44.9 ± 10.6 years; 56% were male. Obesity was present in 49%, and central obesity in 64% of patients. Elevated ALT was observed in 65%, hypertriglyceridemia in 59%, and insulin resistance in 68%. CRP and ferritin levels were also elevated in more than half of participants. Correlation analysis showed significant associations between BMI and ALT (r = 0.46, p < 0.001) and between HOMA-IR and triglycerides (r = 0.52, p < 0.001). Logistic regression identified obesity (OR 2.8), insulin resistance (OR 3.5), and hypertriglyceridemia (OR 2.3) as independent predictors of moderate-to-severe NAFLD.
Conclusion: NAFLD in Pakistani adults is closely associated with obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and systemic inflammation. Early recognition of these correlates may facilitate timely lifestyle and therapeutic interventions to mitigate disease progression.
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