Associations of lipid parameters with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetic patients according to obesity status and metabolic goal achievement.

AIMS: Non-obese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) phenotype has sparked interest and frequently occurred in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Information on associations between lipid parameters and NAFLD in non-obese patients with diabetes has been lacking. We aimed to investigate the relationships between lipid parameters and NAFLD according to obesity status and metabolic goal achievement in T2DM patients.

METHODS

A total of 1,913 T2DM patients who were hospitalized between June 2018 and May 2021 were cross-sectionally assessed. We used logistic regression models to estimate the associations of lipid parameters with NAFLD risk according to obesity and metabolic goal achievement status.

RESULTS

Higher triglycerides, non-HDL-cholesterol, and all lipid ratios including (total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride/HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol, non-HDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol), and lower HDL-cholesterol were associated with NAFLD risk in both non-obese and obese patients. The associations were stronger in non-obese patients than in obese patients. Further, the inverse associations of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol with NAFLD risk were only detected in non-obese patients. Triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, and all lipid ratios studied were significantly associated with NAFLD risk, irrespective of whether the patients achieved their HbA1c, blood pressure, and LDL-cholesterol goal. The presence of poor lipids and lipid ratios were more strongly associated with NAFLD in patients who attained the HbA1c, blood pressure, and/or LDL-cholesterol goal than in those who did not achieve the goal attainment.

CONCLUSIONS

The associations of lipids and lipid ratios with NAFLD risk were stronger in T2DM patients who were non-obese and achieved the HbA1c, blood pressure, and/or LDL-cholesterol goal attainment.