Risk factors of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with a normal visceral adipose tissue area

Objective To investigate the risk factors and insulin resistance ( IR) of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD) with a normal visceral adipose tissue ( VAT) area. Methods A total of 45 NAFLD persons with a normal VAT area who were admitted to Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University from June 2017 to May 2018 were enrolled as observation group, and 27 non-NAFLD patients with a normal VAT area were enrolled as control group. VAT area, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose ( FBG) , and fasting insulin ( FINS) were measured for both groups, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance ( HOMA-IR) was calculated, and the correlation of IR with the indices including waist circumference was analyzed. The independent samples t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. Pearson correlation analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were used to investigate the correlation of normally and non-normally distributed continuous data. A forward logistic regression analysis was used to identify related risk factors. Results The NAFLD group had a significantly higher level of IR than the control group, and there was a significant difference in HOMA-IR between the two groups ( 2. 66 ( 1. 59-4. 06) vs 1. 84 ( 1. 25-2. 47) , Z = 364. 000, P = 0. 005) . IR was positively correlated with FBG ( r = 0. 412, P = 0. 005) , FINS ( r = 0. 789, P <0. 001) , and TG ( r = 0. 306, P = 0. 041) . IR was negatively correlated with HDL ( r =-9. 398, P = 0. 007) . The multivariate regression analysis showed that waist circumference was an independent risk factor for NAFLD with a normal VAT area ( regression coefficient = 0. 181, odds ratio = 1. 198, 95% confidence interval: 1. 099-1. 306, P < 0. 001) . Conclusion There is a certain degree of IR in NAFLD patients with a normal VAT, and waist circumference is an independent risk for NAFLD with a normal VAT.