Heritability of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and association with abnormal vascular parameters: a twin study.
Liver Int
; 32(8): 1287-93, 2012 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22651705
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been linked to increased cardiovascular morbidity. However, genetic factors have an unclear role in this condition.AIMS:
To analyse heritability of NAFLD and its association with abnormal vascular parameters in a large twin cohort.METHODS:
Anthropometric and lipid metabolic parameters were obtained from 208 adult Hungarian twins (63 monozygotic and 41 dizygotic pairs; 58 men and 150 women; age 43.7 ± 16.7 years). B-mode ultrasonography was performed to detect steatosis and categorize severity. Brachial and aortic augmentation indices and aortic pulse wave velocity were assessed using oscillometry (TensioMed Arteriograph). Carotid intima media thickness (IMT) was measured using ultrasonography on the proximal common, distal common and internal carotid arteries.RESULTS:
NAFLD was identified in 47 subjects (22.6%), of which 44 (93.6%) had mild and 3 (6.4%) had moderate steatosis. These subjects were older (age 50.9 ± 14.3 vs. 41.5 ± 16.7 years, P < 0.001) and had a higher body mass index (BMI; 30.1 ± 5.2 vs. 24.6 ± 4.1 km/m(2) , P < 0.001) than non-NAFLD twins. Based on 91 same-sex twin pairs, heritability analysis indicated no discernible role for genetic components in the presence of NAFLD (95% confidence interval, 0.0-36.0%), while shared and unshared environmental effects accounted for 74.2% and 25.8% of variations adjusted for age and BMI. Augmentation indices and carotid IMT in twins with NAFLD were increased at most examined locations (P < 0.05-P < 0.001).CONCLUSION:
These findings do not support heritability of NAFLD, although it coexists with vascular parameters linked to increased cardiovascular risk, underscoring the importance and value of prevention in this very common disorder.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Cardiovascular Abnormalities
/
Fatty Liver
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Liver Int
Journal subject:
GASTROENTEROLOGIA
Year:
2012
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Hungary