Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) and Its Association with Fatty Liver in Obese Adolescents

Abstract

Background: The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is the base-10 logarithmic conversion of the triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio [AIP = log10 (triglyceride/HDL cholesterol)]. Some studies have found a link between low serum vitamin D levels, AIP, and fatty liver. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between AIP levels, fatty liver, and vitamin D levels in obese adolescents aged 10–17 years. Methods: This study included 136 adolescents, including 83 obese and 53 healthy controls, in the age range of 10–17 years. Thirty-nine of the obese adolescents had fatty livers. Those with ultrasonography grades 2 or 3 of fat were in the fatty liver group. The AIP value was calculated as the logarithmic conversion of the ratio (triglyceride/HDL cholesterol) at the base of 10. Vitamin D and other laboratory tests were analyzed biochemically. Statistical evaluations were made with the SPSS program. Results: The AIP, body mass index (BMI), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and insulin averages of obese adolescents with fatty liver were significantly higher than those of obese adolescents without fatty liver and the healthy control group (p p p p = 0.019). Conclusion: AIP levels were higher in obese adolescents, and this increase was higher in obese adolescents with fatty liver in this study. Moreover, we detected a negative correlation between AIP and vitamin D levels and a positive correlation with BMI, insulin resistance, and insulin levels. Based on our data, we concluded that AIP can be a useful predictor of fatty liver in obese adolescents.

Keywords

• atherogenic index of plasma
• fatty liver
• obesity
• vitamin D