Serum resistin level in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and its relation to liver disease severity

ABSTRACT

Resitin is a hormone linked to the development of insulin resistance but direct relation of resistin levels in humans with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] and its effect on the histological severity of NAFLD is lacking. Blood samples were collected from 30 consecutive patients with liver-biopsy-proven NAFLD and 30 subjects as controls. Serum resistin levels were measured, Body mass index [BMI] was calculated for all subjects and serum insulin, C-peptide and lipoprotein levels were also detected. Mean serum resistin level and BMI in the NAFLD group were significantly higher than in the controls [both p< 0.001]. Both men and women in the NAFLD group had higher mean serum resistin levels than did the men and women in the control group [all p>0.001]. Multivariate analysis showed that the percentage of hepatocyte steatosis, sex, BMI and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMAIR] were related to serum resistin levels. These data report increased resistin in NAFUD patients which is related to histological severity of the disease and support the link between resistin and insulin resistance and BMI in these patients