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The resolution of elevated liver enzymes with elimination of sugar‐sweetened beverages independent of weight loss (641.6)
Author(s) -
Khandalavala Birgit,
Nirmalraj Maya,
Geske Jenenne
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.641.6
Subject(s) - medicine , nonalcoholic fatty liver disease , metabolic syndrome , obesity , weight loss , lipogenesis , diabetes mellitus , fatty liver , insulin resistance , sugar , endocrinology , gastroenterology , disease , food science , adipose tissue , biology
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly prevalent and detected in 70% of metabolic syndrome patients. Consumption of sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSB) contributes to increased ectopic fat accumulation in the liver. A similar association with a worldwide increase of diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease is reported. SSB contribute to low satiety resulting in increased energy intake. They are a primary source of added sugar consumption globally. Regular soft drinks cause fat to collect in the liver increasing lipogenesis, and diet soft drinks have the potential to raise insulin resistance and inflammation. A retrospective case series of 17 patients from a suburban primary care clinic setting was conducted. During routine examinations, weight and BMI were recorded of patients who had metabolic syndrome with elevated liver enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). All patients were noted to be consuming varying amounts of SSB and were specifically instructed to abstain completely. Follow up was scheduled within the month and varied between 1 and 5 months. Reversal of elevated liver enzymes was recorded even in 7 patients without weight loss (Figure 1). Targeting SSB consumption is highly effective and needs to be a priority not only in the clinical setting but as a global health initiative. Figure 1Descriptive StatisticsN Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation weight_loss 17 ‐20.0 4.0 ‐5.588 6.5078 BMI 17 25.0 51.0 35.471 7.4843 Age 17 28.0 63.0 44.588 11.2698 time 17 1.0 5.0 1.971 1.1246 ChangeAST 17 ‐67.0 ‐3.0 ‐20.000 17.6918 ChangeALT 17 ‐163.0 7.0 ‐31.647 37.7524 Valid N (listwise) 17WtLossCatFrequency PercentValid No Change in Weight 6 35.3Lost Weight 10 58.8Gained Weight 1 5.9Total 17 100.0