[28] In the multivariate model, adjusted

for age, light drinking, and weight gain, the presence of metabolic syndrome at baseline was independently associated with the onset of NAFLD during the follow-up period of 414 ± 128 Tanespimycin days (men: OR 4.0; 95% CI 2.63–6.08; P < 0.001; women: OR 11.2; 95% CI 4.85–25.87; P < 0.001) (Table 2). Moreover, several studies have examined metabolic factors such as TG, FPG, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and their relationship with NAFLD. Chen et al. also conducted a cross-sectional, community-based study in Taiwan to determine the risk factors for NAFLD.[42] Their multivariate logistic regression analyses of a general population of 2520 showed that the risk factors for the presence of NAFLD included metabolic factors, such as obesity (OR 7.21; 95% CI 5.29–9.84), FPG ≥ 126 mg/dL (OR 2.08; 95% CI 1.41–3.05), TC level ≥ 240 mg/dL selleck (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.06–2.13), TG level ≥ 150 mg/dL (OR 1.76; 95% CI 1.32–2.35), and hyperuricemia (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.16–2.01), as well as male gender (OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.09–1.90), elevated ALT level (OR 5.66; 95% CI 3.99–8.01), and age ≥ 65 years (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.36–0.77). Ma et al. examined the

relationship between HbA1c and NAFLD among 949 elderly, retired employees undergoing health checkups.[20] Their cross-sectional study confirmed that HbA1c, as well as age, gender, BMI, WC, GGT, TG, HDL-c, FPG, and UA, was an independent marker for the presence of NAFLD (OR 1.547; 95% CI 1.054–2,27) (Table 1). With regard to the onset of NAFLD, a cohort of 2589 Korean workers without fatty livers, as noted during a baseline abdominal ultrasound examination, were observed for 4.4 years to identify factors associated with incident NAFLD.[43] The obtained data were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression, which revealed that an increase in the TG level (per mmol/L increase) (OR 1.378; 95% CI 1.179–1.611; Smoothened P < 0.0001), glucose level (per mmol/L increase) (OR 1.215; 95% CI 1.042–1.416; P = 0.013), and WC (per cm increase) (OR 1.078; 95% CI 1.057–1.099; P < 0.001), in addition to an increase in the ALT levels (per IU/L increase) (OR 1.009; 95% CI 1.002–1.017;

P = 0.016) and platelet counts (per 1 × 109/L increase) (OR 1.004; 95% CI 1.001–1.006; P = 0.001), were variables that were independently associated with incident NAFLD. NAFLD, a component of metabolic syndrome, was reported to be associated with insulin resistance (IR), as well as other metabolic diseases such as diabetes and dyslipidemia.[2] Peripheral IR increases lipolysis in adipose tissue and the delivery of free fatty acids to the liver, thereby predisposing the liver to the development of fatty disease. Hepatic IR is also tightly linked to NAFLD. Hepatic IR enhances lipogenesis and eventually results in increased synthesis of fatty acids and TGs.[44] Therefore, IR is thought to be a core component of NAFLD.