Open AccessSerum zinc level and hepatic fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Author(s) -
Min Chul Kim,
Jeong In Lee,
Jung Hee Kim,
Hong Joo Kim,
Yong Kyun Cho,
Woo Kyu Jeon,
Byung Ik Kim,
Woon Mok Sohn
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0240195
Subject(s) - nonalcoholic fatty liver disease , medicine , gastroenterology , odds ratio , body mass index , fibrosis , hepatic fibrosis , fatty liver , confidence interval , diabetes mellitus , endocrinology , disease
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum zinc level and hepatic fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A cross-sectional study was conducted using nationally representative samples from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010. Significant hepatic fibrosis was defined as Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index>1.3. Zinc level was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess risk factors for significant hepatic fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. A total of 300 patients with NAFLD were analyzed in this study. The mean serum zinc level was 139.8±29.9 μg/dL. FIB-4 index was significantly increased as the serum zinc level decreased (Adjusted correlation coefficient = -0.177, p = 0.003). Significant liver fibrosis was observed in 62 patients (21%). The multivariable analysis showed that significant liver fibrosis in NAFLD was associated with diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR], 3.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71–6.19; p <0.001), male (OR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.31–5.12; p = 0.006), and zinc level <140 μg/dL (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.16–3.94; p = 0.015). There was an inverse relationship between serum zinc level and FIB-4 index in NAFLD. Low levels of serum zinc were an independent risk factor for significant hepatic fibrosis in NAFLD.