Research Article Details

Article ID: A25366
PMID: 21915061
Source: Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol
Title: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with blood pressure in hypertensive and nonhypertensive individuals from the general population with normal levels of alanine aminotransferase.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been associated with hypertension in specific population groups and in cases with elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). This study aimed to determine the strength of the association between NAFLD with prevalent hypertension and with high-normal blood pressure (BP) in nonhypertensive individuals from the general population regardless of ALT levels. METHODS: The observational study included 454 participants selected randomly from the general population aged 50-75 years old. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of NAFLD with hypertension were calculated by binary multivariate regression analysis controlling for traditional risk factors and ALT levels. Similar calculations were performed to assess the independent association of NAFLD with high-normal systolic (130-139 mmHg) and diastolic (85-89 mmHg) BP in the subgroup of nonhypertensive participants. RESULTS: The prevalence of NAFLD was 38.5% (95% CI, 34.0-43.0) in the entire sample and 49.5% (95% CI, 44.9-54.1) in hypertensive participants. The percentage of cases with hypertension was 21.2% greater in individuals with NAFLD than those without NAFLD (95% CI, 11.8-30.6, P<0.0005). NAFLD was independently associated with prevalent hypertension with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.71 (95% CI, 1.10-2.65, P=0.017). Among nonhypertensive participants, NAFLD was also independently associated with high-normal systolic BP (adjusted odds ratio 2.13, 95% CI, 1.08-4.20, P=0.029) but not with high-normal diastolic BP. CONCLUSION: In middle-aged and old adults from the general population, NAFLD is associated with an independent risk of identifying hypertension and high-normal systolic BP. Detection of NAFLD, even with normal ALT levels, should serve as an opportunity to identify metabolic and BP abnormalities and intensify lifestyle modification.
DOI: 10.1097/MEG.0b013e32834b8d52

Strategy ID Therapy Strategy Synonyms Therapy Targets Therapy Drugs
S01 Improve insulin resistance insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide Details

Target ID Target Name GENE Action Class UniProtKB ID Entry Name

Diseases ID DO ID Disease Name Definition Class
I12 10763 Hypertension An artery disease characterized by chronic elevated blood pressure in the arteries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertension, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24352797 disease of anatomical entity/ cardiovascular system disease/vascular disease/ artery disease Details
I05 9352 Type 2 diabetes mellitus A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus Details
I14 9970 Obesity An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition Details

Drug ID Drug Name Type DrugBank ID Targets Category Latest Progress
D579 Emfilermin Miscellany -- adipocytes Enhance lipid metabolism Under investigation Details
D199 L-alanine Chemical drug DB00160 KYNU -- Failed in clinical trials Details
D328 Serine Chemical drug DB00133 SRR Improve insulin resistance Under clinical trials Details
D182 Insulin Biological drug DB00030 INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of -- Under clinical trials Details
D316 S-adenosyl-L-methionine Chemical drug DB00118 GNMT cofactor Antiviral Under clinical trials Details