Alterations of biochemical liver function tests in obesity

ABSTRACT

To assess the effects of obesity on liver function tests, and assess its effects on the fasting lipid profile. This study included 110 [70 obese, 40 normal weight] apparently healthy subjects in Mosul City, Northern of Iraq, aged 20-50 years. The biochemical parameters measured were liver function tests that included measurement of liver enzymes activity aspartate aminotrasferase [AST], alanine aminotrasferase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], gamma-glutamyl trasferase [GGT], measurement of serum total, direct and indirect bilirubin, measurement of serum total protein, albumin, globulin and A/G ratio. In addition to measurement of fasting serum lipid profile that included total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], high density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C], [Non-HDL-C], low density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C], atherogenic index. The comparison of obese subjects with normal weight subjects revealed a highly significant increase in serum liver enzymes activity [AST ALT ALP, GGT] among obese subjects with p<0.001, and significant decrease in albumin and A/G ratio among obese subjects with p<0.05, while no significant difference observed in total protein, globulin, bilirubin [total, direct and indirect] between cases and controls. Lipid parameters including [TC, TG, Non-HDL-C, LDL-C and atherogenic index] have also shown highly significant increase in obese subjects with p<0.001, while HDL-C was reduced. Obesity is a major factor that contributes to the raised serum liver enzymes activity and the presence of fatty liver. Obesity is a major cause of increasing lzpid profile levels represented by increasing total cholesterol, triglycerides, Non-HDL-C, LDL-C, and atherogenic index, and reducing HDL-C level. The significant relationship between [ASL ALL GGT with TC, TG, HDL-C] suggests the important relationship between hepatocellular damage and serum lipid profile levels. Periodic checking of liver function tests and fasting lipid profile is very important in the early diagnosis and the prevention of obesity associated-liver and cardiovascular complications