| Abstract: | BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess clinical and inflammatory markers in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 180 Brazilian women (age ≥45 years and amenorrhea ≥12 months). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed by the presence of at least three of the following indicators: Waist circumference (WC) >88 cm, triglycerides (TGs) ≥150 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) <50 mg/dL; blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg; and glucose ≥100 mg/dL. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound. Participants were divided into three groups: Metabolic syndrome alone (n=53); metabolic syndrome+NAFLD (n=67); or absence of metabolic syndrome or NAFLD (control, n=60). Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical variables were quantified. The inflammatory profile included adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Data were submitted to statistical analysis using a Tukey test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-squared, Pearson correlation, and logistic regression (odds ratio, OR). RESULTS: Women with metabolic syndrome+NAFLD, abdominal obesity, high glucose, and insulin resistance by HOMA-IR were compared to women with metabolic syndrome alone and controls (P<0.05). High values of IL-6 and TNF-α and low values of adiponectin were observed among women with metabolic syndrome alone or metabolic syndrome+NAFLD when compared to controls (P<0.05). In multivariate analysis, the variables considered as risk of NAFLD development were: High systolic blood pressure (SBP) [(OR 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-1.04]; large WC (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.13); insulin resistance (OR 3.81, 95% CI 2.01-7.13); and metabolic syndrome (OR 8.68, 95% CI 3.3-24.1). Adiponectin levels reduced NAFLD risk (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80-0.96). CONCLUSION: In postmenopausal women, metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, and insulin resistance were risk markers for the development of NAFLD, whereas higher adiponectin values indicated a protection marker. |
