Prevalence and associated factors for fatty liver in apparent healthy adult men

BACKGROUND: Alcohol intake in one of the factors associated with fatty live r, although its contribution as well as other fators have not been complete ly established. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess the prevalenc e and associated factors for fatty liver diagnosed by ultrasonography. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 1,801 presumably healthy male workers (age range 18-6 0 years). A complete physical and laboratory investigations, including HBsA g and anti-HCV antibodies, a detailed interview on alcohol intake, and an a bdominal ultrasound examination were performed in all cases. Diagnosis of f atty liver was based on defined ultrasonographic criteria. RESULTS: Eighty eight cases were excluded because of the HBsAg or anti-HCV positivity or incomplete ultrasonography. Among the remaining 1,713 cases, 236 (13.8%; 12.2-15.4) had fatty liver. Logistic regression analysis disclo sed age (RR: 1.04; Cl 95%; 1.03-1.05), ethanol intake > 40 g/d (2.19; 1.81- 2.65), gamma-glutamyl-transferase > 40 U/l (3.51; 2.95-4.18), body mass ind ex > 30 (3.87; 3.22-4.66) and glycemia > 120 mg/dl (2.69; 1,85-3.90) as the risk factors for fatty liver. Fatty liver was present in 8.8% of cases who did not have obesity, diabetes or hypercholesterolemia. When the subjects with obesity, hyperglycemia or hypercholesterolemia were excluded, regressi on analysis confirmed age, ethanol intake and gamma-glutamyl-transferase as independent factors associated with fatty liver. CONCLUSIONS: Age, alcohol intake, obesity, and increased serum levels of gl ucose, cholesterol and gammaglutamyl transferase are the main factors assoc iated with fatty liver in presumably healthy adult men.