Metabolic risk factors of coronary heart disease in relation to anthropometric measures in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients following dietary intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is connected with high risk of metabolic disorders, such as: metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia and independently, coronary heart disease (CHD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 108 Caucasian individuals (39 women and 69 men) aged 20–77 years with NAFLD were prospectively enrolled in the study. The diagnosis of NAFLD was con- 􀏐irmed during the 􀏐irst appointment using ultrasonography. The liver serum tests such as alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were taken into account, as well. All of the tests and measurements were taken at the begining and after 6 month of dieting. Anthropometric tools (body mass index – BMI, waist circumference – WC, waist to hip ratio – WHR, waist to height ratio – WHtR, coinicity index – C -Index) were examined in relation to metabolic risk factors of CHD (increased: triacylglycerols, low density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, glycemia and low high density lipoprotein).

RESULTS: Statistical signi􀏐icant reduction of body weight, BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR and C -Index (p < 0.05) contributed to the improvement of serum triacylglycerols in both sexes (p < 0.05). Indicators of abdominal obesity (WC, WHR, WHtR, C -Index) correlated signi􀏐icantly with serum glucose (p < 0.05) both before and after the diet and with serum lipids, either before or after the diet (p < 0.05), in both sexes.

CONCLUSIONS: It seems bene􀏐icial to spread the use of anthropometric tools, especially C -Index and WHtR, in primary health care practice for either early prevention or prediction of metabolic CHD risk occurrence, and its potential fatal consequences among patients with NAFLD or with other metabolic disorders. Keywords: fatty liver disease; cardiovascular disease; risk factors; anthropometry; nutrition; metabolic syndrome.