Serum total cholylglycine level as a liver function test in obesity

The plan of the work is to use the RIA technique for estimation of serum cholylglycine as a sensitive liver function test, in a trial to clarify the controversy about hepatic assessment in obese subjects. The study was carried on 29 healthy normal nonobese subjects [BMI <27 kg/m2] and 41 obese subjects [BMI >30 kg/m2]. The results demonstrated significant elevation of blood pressure as well as significant rise in fasting and postprandial plasma glucose levels in obese patients as compared to control. The combination of obesity, hypertension and glucose intolerance is known to predispose to ischemic heart diseases. The results of the work showed insignificant changes in the levels of creatinine, ALT, AST and ALP activities between obese and nonobese subjects. In this study, a positive significant correlation was observed between BMI and serum bile acid levels in both obese and nonobese subjects. This finding was further confirmed by the positive significant correlation that was observed between bile acid levels and activities of AST, ALT in both groups of the study. This correlation suggested two possible explanations to the elevated bile acid level in obesity, which could be either due to the release of bile acids, ALT and AST from injured hepatocytes or diminished hepatic clearance of bile acids. The present of significant positive correlation between alkaline phosphatase activity and serum bile acids in obese patients only, could suggest to some extent the possible role of obesity developing obstructive biliary disorders