Increased serum soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 levels in patients with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Table 1 Clinical and biochemical characteristics of healthy controls and patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease¹n (%)

Characteristic	Control	NAFLD	Simple steatosis	NASH (borderline + definite)	P value2	P value3
	(n = 26)	(n = 53)	(n = 8)	(n = 45)
Gender (males/females)	14/12	31/22	4/4	27/18	0.690	0.800
Age (yr)	39 ± 10.7	42.5 ± 9.6	42.8 ± 13.2	4 1 ± 8.6	0.190	0.310
BMI (kg/m²)	28.7 ± 5.1	31.6 ± 5.3	29.9 ± 4.31	32.07 ± 5.5	0.030	0.040
Smoking	5 (19.2)	11 (20.7)	3 (37.5)	8 (17.7)	0.900	0.080
Waist circumference (cm)	85.2 ± 7.3	102.2 ± 9.1	100.2 ± 9.9	102.6 ± 9	0.002	0.002
Diabetes Mellitus	No	11 (20.8)	3 (37.5)	8 (17.7)	0.012	0.050
Metabolic syndrome	No	33 (62.2)	3 (37.5)	30 (66.6)	< 0.001	< 0.001
Hypertension	No	12 (22.6)	3 (37.5)	9 (20)	0.008	0.010
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	116 ± 17	121 ± 16	115 ± 15	122 ± 17	0.310	0.270
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	74 ± 12	82 ± 10	79 ± 8	82 ± 10	0.006	0.010
ESR median (min-max, mm/h)	21 (6-38)	11.5 (3-40)	16 (4-40)	11 (3-38)	0.001	0.110
CRP median (min-max, mg/L)	0.4 (0.2-1.5)	0.4 (0.1-2)	0.5 (0.1-1.4)	0.4 (0.1-2)	0.720	0.670
Hemoglobin A1c (%)	5.7 ± 0.3	5.9 ± 0.9	5.5 ± 0.4	5.9 ± 0.9	0.730	0.310
HOMA-IR median (min-max)	2 (0.6-3.2)	2.5 (0.3-11.8)	1.6 (0.3-4.2)	2.7 (0.5 ± 11.8)	0.001	0.010
AST median (min-max, U/L)	19 (9-60)	35 (16-147)	36 (19-91)	35 (16-147)	< 0.001	< 0.001
ALT median(min-max, U/L)	18 (5-50)	52 (17-196)	43 (18-97)	53 (17-196)	< 0.001	< 0.001
Total cholesterol (mmol/L)	5.15 ± 1	5.43 ± 1.39	5.46 ± 1.13	5.43 ± 1.45	0.450	0.670
HDL-cholesterol (mmol/L)	1.21 ± 0.2	1.19 ± 0.2	1.26 ± 0.2	1.16 ± 0.2	0.290	0.310
LDL-cholesterol (mmol/L)	3.52 ± 0.8	3.67 ± 0.9	3.67 ± 0.8	3.67 ± 0.9	0.520	0.770
Triglycerides (mmol/L)	1.4 ± 0.6	2.5 ± 2.12	2.2 ± 1.08	2.5 ± 2.27	0.005	0.420
Ferritin median (min-max, pmol/L)	20.7 (2.8-101)	91 (6.5-326)	141.5 (7.8-300)	88.5 (6.5-326)	< 0.001	< 0.001
LOX-1 (ng/mL)	4.08 ± 4.32	8.49 ± 6.43	6.1 ± 6.16	8.92 ± 6.45	0.001	0.004

¹The patients with NAFLD and controls was similar according to the socioeconomic status, racial and ethnic background, and, dietary and/or physical activity habits, religion;

²P value: for comparison of control and NAFLD (t test for continuos variables and χ² test for categorical, as variables );

³P value: for comparison of control, simple steatosis, and NASH (One-way ANOVA for continues variables and χ² test for categorical variables). Normal values in laboratory tests: ESR: Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (0-20 mm/h); CRP: C-reactive protein (< 8 mg/L); HbA1c (4.3-5.8 proportion of total hemoglobin); total cholesterol (2.6-5.2 mmol/L); triglyceride (0.7-1.7 mmol/L); LDL cholesterol (1-3.37 mg/dL); HDL cholesterol (> 0.9 mmol/L); AST (5-32 U/L); ALT (5-38 U/L); ferritin (54-755 μg/L in males and 25-755 μg/L in females); BMI (body mass index) (18-25 kg/m²); LOX-1: Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1; HOMA-IR and metabolic syndrome are described in the text, Diabetes Mellitus was diagnosed according to ADA 2010 criteria, NAFLD: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; NASH: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.