Research Article Details

Article ID: A50284
PMID: 35443531
Source: J Assoc Physicians India
Title: Clinical Characteristics and Metabolic Profiles of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Lean Patients and Their Comparison with Obese and Overweight NAFLD.
Abstract: Non -alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major cause of chronic liver disease throughout the world. The spectrum of NAFLD includes a non-serious condition called fatty liver, a more serious condition named non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which may lead to severe liver scarring and cirrhosis. Obesity and diabetes mellitus are established risk factors for NAFLD. However, it has been increasingly reported among lean or non-obese and non diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the magnitude, clinical and metabolic profiles of NAFLD in normal body mass index (BMI) subjects, defined as lean NAFLD, as compared to overweight or obese NAFLD and lean healthy controls. MATERIAL: 92 consecutive NAFLD and 90 healthy controls were studied between 2021 March to 2021 August, for a period of 6 months. Patients of NAFLD were diagnosed on the basis of ultrasonography features, presence of metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance. Patients with a BMI of less than 23 kg/m2 were defined as lean NAFLD. Alcoholic patients, those with liver diseases of other known causes, patients on medications known to induce fatty liver were excluded. For comparing the characteristics of lean NAFLD patients, we also included 90 lean healthy subjects with normal liver on ultrasonography as control subjects. OBSERVATION: Among the 92 NAFLD patients, 18 (19.56%) were lean or non-obese, while 48 (52.17%) were obese, and 26 (28.26%) were overweight. The lean NAFLD cohort was younger (p<0.001), more commonly female, had a lower prevalence of diabetes (p=0.01) and metabolic syndrome (p<0.001). The serum lipid profile was similar in all the three BMI categories and 82% of the lean NAFLD were dyslipidemic. In comparison to obese subjects, patients with lean NAFLD had significantly less fibrosis. Despite being lean, the mean BMI of lean NAFLD patients was still higher than healthy control group. CONCLUSION: Dyslipidemia is frequently associated with lean NAFLD. Lean NAFLD when compared to obese or overweight NAFLD, have lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and less fibrosis on fibroscan of liver. They donot have abdominal obesity, but their BMI was higher than healthy controls.
DOI:

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
S03 Anti-fibrosis fibrosis Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 Details

Target ID Target Name GENE Action Class UniProtKB ID Entry Name

Diseases ID DO ID Disease Name Definition Class
I13 3146 Lipid metabolism disorder An inherited metabolic disorder that involves the creation and degradation of lipids. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipid_metabolism disease of metabolism/ inherited metabolic disorder 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
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
D094 Cysteamine Chemical drug DB00847 GSS stimulant Renal drug Under clinical trials Details
D095 Cysteamine bitartrate Chemical drug DB00847 -- -- Under clinical trials Details