Influence of insulin resistance in obese patients on elevated serum alanine aminotransferase.

Background and Objective: Insulin resistance has been associated with fat liver and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The aim of our study was to study the influence of insulin resistance in obese patients on elevated serum alanine aminotransferase. Research Methods: A population of 91 obesi- ty non diabetic outpatients was analyzed in a cross sectional study. HOMA-IR was calculated as indicator of insulin resistance. Results: The mean age was 39.2 ± 16.7 years and the mean BMI 34.4 ± 5.2. Patients were clas- sified as group I (control, n = 74) when serum (Alanine Aminotransferase) ALT activity was normal or group II (NAFLD, n = 17) when serum ALT activity was greater than the upper limit of normal reference laboratory (≥ 43 UI/L). Waist circumference, fat mass and hip to waist ratio were higher in group II. Insulin (13.5 ± 7.8 mUI/L vs 24.9 ± 16.7 mUI/L; p 43 U/L of 2.18 (CI:95%: 1.12-4.2) with each 1 unit of HOMA-IR adjusted by age, sex, weight, and dietary intake. Conclusion: Insulin resistance in obese pa- tients is associated with ALT activity. Further study is needed to evaluate histological changes and new treatments in these patients.