N. Kato

Prevalence and risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among adults in an urban Sri Lankan population

Background and Aims:  Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging problem in the Asia–Pacific region. However, its prevalence and risk factors in Asian (especially South Asian) communities is poorly studied. In this study, the aim was to determine the community prevalence and risk factors for NAFLD among adults in an urban Sri Lankan population.

Association of genetic variants for susceptibility to obesity with type 2 diabetes in Japanese individuals

Aims/hypothesisIn populations of East Asian descent, we performed a replication study of loci previously identified in populations of European descent as being associated with obesity measures such as BMI and type 2 diabetes.MethodsWe genotyped 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 13 candidate loci that had previously been identified by genome-wide association meta-analyses for obesity measures in Europeans. Genotyping was done in 18,264 participants from two general Japanese populations. For SNPs showing an obesity association in Japanese individuals, we further examined diabetes associations in up to 6,781 cases and 7,307 controls from a subset of the original, as well as from additional populations.ResultsSignificant obesity associations (p < 0.1 two-tailed, concordant direction with previous reports) were replicated for 11 SNPs from the following ten loci in Japanese participants: SEC16B, TMEM18, GNPDA2, BDNF, MTCH2, BCDIN3D–FAIM2, SH2B1–ATP2A1, FTO, MC4R and KCTD15. The strongest effect was observed at TMEM18 rs4854344 (p = 7.1 × 10−7 for BMI). Among the 11 SNPs showing significant obesity association, six were also associated with diabetes (OR 1.05−1.17; p = 0.04−2.4 × 10−7) after adjustment for BMI in the Japanese. When meta-analysed with data from the previous reports, the BMI-adjusted diabetes association was found to be highly significant for the FTO locus in East Asians (OR 1.13; 95% CI 1.09−1.18; p = 7.8 × 10−10) with substantial inter-ethnic heterogeneity (p = 0.003).Conclusions/interpretationWe confirmed that ten candidate loci are associated with obesity measures in the general Japanese populations. Six (of ten) loci exert diabetogenic effects in the Japanese, although relatively modest in size, and independently of increased adiposity.

Influence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease on the development of diabetes mellitus

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is linked to metabolic syndrome, and is known to be associated with impaired fasting glycemia and diabetes mellitus. This prospective community‐based study was conducted to determine the association between NAFLD and incidence of diabetes mellitus in an urban adult population in Sri Lanka.

Prevalence of Acanthosis Nigricans in an urban population in Sri Lanka and its utility to detect metabolic syndrome

BackgroundInsulin resistance (IR) plays a major role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is an easily detectable skin condition that is strongly associated with IR. The aims of this study were, firstly, to investigate the prevalence of AN among adults in an urban Sri Lankan community and secondly, to describe its utility to detect metabolic syndrome.FindingsIn a community based investigation, 35-64 year adults who were selected using stratified random sampling, underwent interview, clinical examination, liver ultrasound scanning, and biochemical and serological tests. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed on revised ATP III criteria for Asian populations. AN was identified by the presence of dark, thick, velvety skin in the neck.2957 subjects were included in this analysis. The prevalence of AN, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus were 17.4%, 34.8% and 19.6%, respectively. There was a strong association between AN and metabolic syndrome. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of AN to detect metabolic syndrome were 28.2%, 89.0%, 45.9% and 79.0% for males, and 29.2%, 88.4%, 65.6% and 62.3% for females, respectively.ConclusionsAN was common in our study population, and although it did not have a high enough sensitivity to be utilized as a screening test for metabolic syndrome, the presence of AN strongly predicts metabolic syndrome.

The burden of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose in an urban population of Sri Lanka

To describe the burden of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose in middle‐aged residents (35–64 years) in an urban area of Sri Lanka.

1013 IS ACANTHOSIS NIGRICANS A USEFUL CLINICAL SCREENING TEST FOR NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD) IN RESOURCE POOR SETTINGS?

Poster Session Abstract (1013), International Liver Congress, 44th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), April 22 -April 26, 2009. Copenhagen Denmark

T1035 Alanine Transaminase (ALT) Levels in Normal Adult Sri Lankans

AGA Poster Session Abstract (T1035) Digestive Disease Week (DDW), May 30 - June 4, 2009. Chicago, IL