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Upper limit of normal serum alanine aminotransferase levels in J apanese subjects
Author(s) -
Tanaka Kenichi,
Hyogo Hideyuki,
Ono Masafumi,
Takahashi Hirokazu,
Kitajima Yoichiro,
Ono Naofumi,
Eguchi Takahisa,
Fujimoto Kazuma,
Chayama Kazuaki,
Saibara Toshiji,
Anzai Keizo,
Eguchi Yuichiro
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/hepr.12293
Subject(s) - medicine , fatty liver , alanine aminotransferase , gastroenterology , multivariate analysis , steatohepatitis , percentile , body mass index , waist , incidence (geometry) , alanine transaminase , risk factor , liver disease , disease , statistics , physics , mathematics , optics
Aim Serum alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ) is important for screening, diagnosis and management of chronic liver diseases. The incidence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD )/non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis ( NASH ), which is considered a hepatic manifestation of lifestyle‐related diseases, is increasing worldwide. However, the upper limit of the normal ALT level has not yet been established because of not excluding many lifestyle‐related diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the upper limit of normal serum ALT levels in J apanese subjects. Methods We analyzed the serum ALT levels of 11 404 J apanese subjects negative for hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C virus antibody, and who received health check‐ups. Lifestyle factors related to ALT levels were determined by multivariate analysis. Subjects with all factors identified by multivariate analysis within the normal range were defined as “healthy” subjects. The 90th percentile of ALT levels in healthy subjects was defined as the upper limit of normal ALT . Results Whereas alcohol intake was not a significant factor, the following were independently associated with ALT concentration by multivariate analysis: sex; age; body mass index; waist circumference; concentrations of total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and fasting blood glucose; and fatty liver on ultrasonography. Healthy subjects consisted of 1462 (21.2%) men and 2046 (45.4%) women, and the 90th percentiles of the ALT levels in the two groups were 29 and 23 IU/L, respectively. Conclusion The upper limits of normal ALT when considering lifestyle factors in Japanese subjects were 29 IU/L in men and 23 IU/L in women.