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. 2024 Oct 15;29(1):496.
doi: 10.1186/s40001-024-02065-2.

High levels of serum hypersensitive C-reactive protein are associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in non-obese people: a cross-sectional study

Guitao Xia  1 , Yuemei Xu  1 , Cheng Zhang  1 , Mengting Li  1 , Hongliang Li  2 , Changxi Chen  3
Affiliations

High levels of serum hypersensitive C-reactive protein are associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in non-obese people: a cross-sectional study

Guitao Xia et al. Eur J Med Res. .

Abstract

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity have become one of the most common chronic diseases, and the global prevalence is increasing year by year. Both are accompanied by hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). At present, there are many predictors of NAFLD. Exploring the relationship between hs-CRP and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in non-obese people will be helpful for risk prediction and clinical screening in high-risk populations.

Objective: To explore the relationship between levels of serum hs-CRP and the presence of NAFLD in non-obese people.

Methods: A total of 6558 participants who underwent physical examination from March 2017 to November 2017. Multivariate logistic regression was utilized to analyze the risk factors associated with NAFLD.

Results: This study including 4240 males and 2318 females ranging from 20 to 94 years. In 1396 patients with NAFLD, the prevalence rate was 21.3%, among which 1056 (24.9%) males and 340 (14.7%) females had NAFLD. The prevalence of NAFLD was much higher in males compared to females (χ2 = 93.748, P < 0.001). In the nonalcoholic fatty liver group, various factors including hs-CRP, age, WC, BMI, systolic blood pressure and blood pressure diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher than those in the control group. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that hs-CRP was an independent risk factor for NAFLD, even after adjusting for relevant variables.

Conclusions: The prevalence of NAFLD increases with the level of hs-CRP in both men and women who are non-obese. Hs-CRP levels are an important risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in non-obese individuals.

Keywords: Cross-sectional; Hypersensitive C-reactive protein; Inflammation; Non-obese people; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis of risk factors for NAFLD
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Risk was determined by the quartile of baseline serum hs-CRP in unadjusted and adjusted models. Model1 accounted for age and gender adjustments; Model2 included adjustments for Model1 as well as waist circumference and BMI; Model3 further adjusted for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, ALT, AST, GGT, uric acid, and HbA1c
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