Frontiers in Endocrinology (Jan 2024)

Association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and increased glucose-to-albumin ratio in adults without diabetes

  • Shuai Wang,
  • Shuai Wang,
  • Shuai Wang,
  • Xiaohong Lin,
  • Chuchen Zhu,
  • Chuchen Zhu,
  • Chuchen Zhu,
  • Yuqi Dong,
  • Yuqi Dong,
  • Yuqi Dong,
  • Yiwen Guo,
  • Yiwen Guo,
  • Yiwen Guo,
  • Zhonghao Xie,
  • Zhonghao Xie,
  • Zhonghao Xie,
  • Xiaoshun He,
  • Xiaoshun He,
  • Xiaoshun He,
  • Weiqiang Ju,
  • Weiqiang Ju,
  • Weiqiang Ju,
  • Maogen Chen,
  • Maogen Chen,
  • Maogen Chen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1287916
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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BackgroundNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects approximately 30% of individuals globally. Both serum glucose and albumin were demonstrated to be potential markers for the development of NAFLD. We hypothesized that the risk of NAFLD may be proportional to the glucose-to-albumin ratio (GAR).MethodsBased on information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2018, it was determined that GAR was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD and liver fibrosis utilizing weighted multivariable logistic regression. Participants with a fatty liver index (FLI) over 60 were identified with NAFLD, and those with an NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) >0.676 with evidence of NAFLD were labeled with advanced hepatic fibrosis (AHF). The liver biopsy was utilized to verify the relationship between GAR and FLD in our center cohort. Mendelian randomization analysis investigated the genetic relationship between GAR and NAFLD.ResultsOf 15,534 eligible participants, 36.4% of participants were identified as NAFLD without AHF. GAR was positively correlated with the probability of NAFLD following full adjustment for possible variables (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.39–1.67). It was confirmed that patients with NAFLD and AHF had an inferior prognosis. The relationship between GAR and NFS was favorable (R = 0.46, P< 0.0001), and NAFLD patients with a higher GAR tended to develop poor survival. In our center cohort, the association between GAR and NAFLD was verified.ConclusionAmong participants without diabetes, greater GAR was linked to higher risks of NAFLD. In addition, NAFLD patients with higher GAR tended to develop liver fibrosis and adverse outcomes.

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