Deutsch, MelaniePapatheodoridis, George V.Margariti, EkateriniManolakopoulos, SpiliosBackground Although non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS), it may also be present in lean individuals. We evaluated the characteristics of NAFLD patients, focusing on those with normal body mass index (BMI).Methods One hundred and sixty-two of 185 consecutive NAFLD patients were included (23 were excluded due to missing data). NAFLD diagnosis required elevated ALT and/or GGT, hepatic steatosis on ultrasonography and no other cause of liver disease. Demographic, clinical, somatometric and laboratory characteristics were recorded. BMI <25 kg/m2 was considered normal.Results Normal BMI was present in 12% of patients. Patients with normal compared to those with increased BMI had numerically but not significantly lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus (6% vs. 15%, p=0.472), arterial hypertension (17% vs. 29%, p=0.276) and MS (20% vs. 41%, p=0.160). Normal BMI NAFLD patients met no criterion of MS more frequently (43% vs. 2%, p<0.0001) and had smaller waist circumference (94±6 vs. 108±10 cm, p<0.001), higher median levels of ALT (92 vs. 62 IU/L, p=0.032) and AST (45 vs. 37 IU/L, p=0.036) and relatively lower fasting glucose levels (98±22 vs. 106±29 mg/dL, p=0.052), but similar levels of HDL, LDL and triglycerides.Conclusion Approximately 1 of 8 NAFLD patients coming to the tertiary liver center has normal BMI. These patients do not necessarily have insulin resistance associated metabolic disorders, but they have higher levels of ALT/AST than the overweight or obese NAFLD patients.Keywords fatty liver, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistanceAnn Gastroenterol 2012; 25 (1): 45-51text/htmlapplication/pdfapplication/mswordhttp://www.annalsgastro.gr/index.php/annalsgastro/article/view/1009engHellenic Society of Gastroenterology1792-74631108-7471Annals of Gastroenterology; Volume 25, No 1 (2012); 45Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease may develop in individuals with normal body mass indexinfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion2012-02-04Δημοσίευση σε περιοδικόPublication in journalΓαστροεντερολογίαGastroenterologyisi -Gastroenterology & Hepatology covers resources on the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and pathology of the digestive system. This category includes specific resources on the prognosis and treatment of digestive diseases; stomach ulcers; metabolic, genetic, infectious and chemically induced diseases of the liver; colitis; diseases of the pancreas and diseases of the rectum.Επιστημονικό άρθροScientific articleΕλληνική Γαστροεντερολογική ΕταιρίαGreek Aggregator OpenArchives.gr | National Documentation Centre (EKT)other