Association between Serum Uric Acid and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Nonobese Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-sectional Study

Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 22;10(1):10072. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66931-9.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the association between serum uric acid (sUA) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in nonobese postmenopausal women. A total of 4323 female individuals over 18 years of age participated in this cross-sectional study. The subjects were divided into four groups according to menopause status and body mass index. sUA quartiles in this female population were categorized as follows: Q1 ≤ 230 mmol/L, Q2: 231-270 mmol/L, Q3: 271-310 mmol/L and Q4: ≥ 311 mmol/L. The presence or absence of NAFLD was assessed by abdominal ultrasonography. The prevalence of NAFLD was 38.8% in the general population, and the average age was 46.5 ± 11.3 years. Among nonobese and obese subjects, the prevalence of NAFLD was lower in nonmenopausal subjects than in postmenopausal subjects (nonobese: 20.74% vs 45.26%, respectively, P < 0.0001; obese: 70.51% vs 84.35%, respectively, P < 0.0001). After adjusting for age, current smoking status, current alcohol drinking status, diabetes, hypertension disease and triglyceride, the ORs (95% CIs) for NAFLD among individuals in Q2-Q4 were 1.518 (1.062-2.169), 1.431 (1.010-2.027) and 2.054 (1.442-2.927), respectively, P value for trend <0.0001. Higher sUA levels can be used as a predictive biomarker for NAFLD in nonobese postmenopausal women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Body Mass Index
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / blood
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / diagnostic imaging*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / epidemiology*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / etiology
  • Postmenopause / blood*
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Ultrasonography
  • Uric Acid / blood*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Uric Acid