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Prevalence of and risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a non-obese Japanese population, 2011–2012

  • Original Article—Liver, Pancreas, and Biliary Tract
  • Published:
Journal of Gastroenterology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in non-obese subjects is not rare in Japan, but it has not been clearly described. To clarify its prevalence and risk factors, we investigated the clinical characteristics of NAFLD in non-obese subjects in comparison with NAFLD in obese subjects in the Japanese general population.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed with 5433 subjects who received health checkups from 2011 to 2012. Subjects consuming more than 20 g of alcohol per day and those with autoimmune liver disease, viral hepatitis, uncontrolled biliary disease and insufficient data were excluded. Subjects with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 were considered obese, and subjects with a BMI <25 kg/m2 were considered non-obese.

Results

A total of 3271 subjects were enrolled. The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 24.6 %: 68.5 % in obese subjects and 15.2 % in non-obese subjects. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that ≥10 kg of weight gain since the age of 20 was significantly associated with NAFLD in non-obese subjects of both genders, and eating an evening meal within 2 h before going to bed 3 days or more per week and drinking <20 g of alcohol per day were negatively associated in non-obese females. Metabolic factors such as waist circumference and triglycerides were predictors of NAFLD in non-obese subjects, and body fat percentage was a predictor in non-obese males.

Conclusions

Lifestyle as well as metabolic factors may play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, even in the non-obese Japanese population.

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Abbreviations

Ht:

Body height

BW:

Body weight

BMI:

Body mass index

BFP:

Body fat percentage

WC:

Waist circumference

CRP:

C-reactive protein

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

TP:

Total protein

ALB:

Serum albumin

AST:

Aspartate aminotransferase

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

ALP:

Alkaline phosphatase

GGT:

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase

ChE:

Cholinesterase

BUN:

Blood urea nitrogen

Cr:

Serum creatinine

eGFR:

Estimated glomerular filtration rate

UA:

Uric acid

TC:

Total cholesterol

TG:

Triglyceride

HDL:

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol

LDL:

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

FPG:

Fasting plasma glucose

HbA1c:

Hemoglobin A1c

NGSP:

National glycohemoglobin standardization program

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Conflict of interest

Yoshito Itoh received commercial research funds from Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Care Division, Kyoto Second Red Cross Hospital, 355-5 Haruobi-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8026, Japan

    Kenichi Nishioji, Mai Kamaguchi, Naomi Mochizuki & Masao Kobayashi

  2. Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan

    Yoshio Sumida, Takeshi Nishimura, Kanji Yamaguchi & Yoshito Itoh

Authors
  1. Kenichi Nishioji
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  2. Yoshio Sumida
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  3. Mai Kamaguchi
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  6. Takeshi Nishimura
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  8. Yoshito Itoh
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Correspondence to Kenichi Nishioji.

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Nishioji, K., Sumida, Y., Kamaguchi, M. et al. Prevalence of and risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a non-obese Japanese population, 2011–2012. J Gastroenterol 50, 95–108 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-014-0948-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-014-0948-9

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