The serum uric acid to apolipoprotein A1 ratio is independently correlated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: findings from a single national metabolic management center cohort

BackgroundRecent evidence suggests that the serum uric acid to apolipoprotein A1 ratio (UAR) may be a novel biomarker for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This study aims to investigate the relationship between UAR and MASLD, and compare the diagnostic ability of UAR...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xiu Li Guo, Mei Tu, Xiu Ping Qiu, Wei Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Endocrinology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1619003/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850232751846850560
author Xiu Li Guo
Mei Tu
Xiu Ping Qiu
Wei Wang
author_facet Xiu Li Guo
Mei Tu
Xiu Ping Qiu
Wei Wang
author_sort Xiu Li Guo
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundRecent evidence suggests that the serum uric acid to apolipoprotein A1 ratio (UAR) may be a novel biomarker for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This study aims to investigate the relationship between UAR and MASLD, and compare the diagnostic ability of UAR with other insulin resistance-related markers for MASLD in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodA cohort of 1,019 individuals with T2DM was recruited from the National Metabolic Management Center of our hospital. Unenhanced abdominal CT scans were performed to evaluate liver steatosis for diagnosing MASLD. The association between UAR and the risk of MASLD was analyzed using weighted binomial logistic regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS), and subgroup analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to compare the diagnostic performance of UAR with other insulin resistance-related markers, including the serum uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (UHR), triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (THR), and triglyceride to apolipoprotein A1 ratio (TAR).ResultsParticipants in the MASLD group exhibited elevated UAR levels. After full adjustments for potential confounders, UAR remained independently associated with MASLD (OR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.45-1.89, P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed that this association was consistent across various subgroups, including sex, drinking status, hypertension, lipid-lowering therapy, and body mass index (P < 0.05). RCS analysis demonstrated a linear increase in the risk of MASLD with higher UAR levels (P for nonlinear = 0.319). ROC curve analysis indicated that UAR provided good diagnostic performance for MASLD (AUC:0.777, 95% CI: 0.749- 0.805), comparable to TAR (AUC difference: -0.003, 95% CI: -0.033-0.026, P = 0.818) and superior to UHR (AUC difference: 0.043, 95% CI: 0.019-0.067, P < 0.001) and THR (AUC difference: 0.035, 95% CI: 0.019-0.067, P = 0.047).ConclusionUAR was independently associated with MASLD and demonstrated significant diagnostic value, indicating that UAR could be a cost-effective biomarker to help identify high-risk individuals for MASLD.
format Article
id doaj-art-07096d8b555b434ba4de39f77afc2cfb
institution OA Journals
issn 1664-2392
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Endocrinology
spelling doaj-art-07096d8b555b434ba4de39f77afc2cfb2025-08-20T02:03:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-06-011610.3389/fendo.2025.16190031619003The serum uric acid to apolipoprotein A1 ratio is independently correlated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: findings from a single national metabolic management center cohortXiu Li GuoMei TuXiu Ping QiuWei WangBackgroundRecent evidence suggests that the serum uric acid to apolipoprotein A1 ratio (UAR) may be a novel biomarker for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This study aims to investigate the relationship between UAR and MASLD, and compare the diagnostic ability of UAR with other insulin resistance-related markers for MASLD in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodA cohort of 1,019 individuals with T2DM was recruited from the National Metabolic Management Center of our hospital. Unenhanced abdominal CT scans were performed to evaluate liver steatosis for diagnosing MASLD. The association between UAR and the risk of MASLD was analyzed using weighted binomial logistic regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS), and subgroup analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to compare the diagnostic performance of UAR with other insulin resistance-related markers, including the serum uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (UHR), triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (THR), and triglyceride to apolipoprotein A1 ratio (TAR).ResultsParticipants in the MASLD group exhibited elevated UAR levels. After full adjustments for potential confounders, UAR remained independently associated with MASLD (OR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.45-1.89, P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed that this association was consistent across various subgroups, including sex, drinking status, hypertension, lipid-lowering therapy, and body mass index (P < 0.05). RCS analysis demonstrated a linear increase in the risk of MASLD with higher UAR levels (P for nonlinear = 0.319). ROC curve analysis indicated that UAR provided good diagnostic performance for MASLD (AUC:0.777, 95% CI: 0.749- 0.805), comparable to TAR (AUC difference: -0.003, 95% CI: -0.033-0.026, P = 0.818) and superior to UHR (AUC difference: 0.043, 95% CI: 0.019-0.067, P < 0.001) and THR (AUC difference: 0.035, 95% CI: 0.019-0.067, P = 0.047).ConclusionUAR was independently associated with MASLD and demonstrated significant diagnostic value, indicating that UAR could be a cost-effective biomarker to help identify high-risk individuals for MASLD.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1619003/fullserum uric acid to apolipoprotein A1 ratiometabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseaseinsulin resistancetype 2 diabetes mellitusapolipoprotein A1
spellingShingle Xiu Li Guo
Mei Tu
Xiu Ping Qiu
Wei Wang
The serum uric acid to apolipoprotein A1 ratio is independently correlated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: findings from a single national metabolic management center cohort
Frontiers in Endocrinology
serum uric acid to apolipoprotein A1 ratio
metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
insulin resistance
type 2 diabetes mellitus
apolipoprotein A1
title The serum uric acid to apolipoprotein A1 ratio is independently correlated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: findings from a single national metabolic management center cohort
title_full The serum uric acid to apolipoprotein A1 ratio is independently correlated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: findings from a single national metabolic management center cohort
title_fullStr The serum uric acid to apolipoprotein A1 ratio is independently correlated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: findings from a single national metabolic management center cohort
title_full_unstemmed The serum uric acid to apolipoprotein A1 ratio is independently correlated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: findings from a single national metabolic management center cohort
title_short The serum uric acid to apolipoprotein A1 ratio is independently correlated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: findings from a single national metabolic management center cohort
title_sort serum uric acid to apolipoprotein a1 ratio is independently correlated with metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus findings from a single national metabolic management center cohort
topic serum uric acid to apolipoprotein A1 ratio
metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
insulin resistance
type 2 diabetes mellitus
apolipoprotein A1
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1619003/full
work_keys_str_mv AT xiuliguo theserumuricacidtoapolipoproteina1ratioisindependentlycorrelatedwithmetabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatoticliverdiseaseintype2diabetesmellitusfindingsfromasinglenationalmetabolicmanagementcentercohort
AT meitu theserumuricacidtoapolipoproteina1ratioisindependentlycorrelatedwithmetabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatoticliverdiseaseintype2diabetesmellitusfindingsfromasinglenationalmetabolicmanagementcentercohort
AT xiupingqiu theserumuricacidtoapolipoproteina1ratioisindependentlycorrelatedwithmetabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatoticliverdiseaseintype2diabetesmellitusfindingsfromasinglenationalmetabolicmanagementcentercohort
AT weiwang theserumuricacidtoapolipoproteina1ratioisindependentlycorrelatedwithmetabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatoticliverdiseaseintype2diabetesmellitusfindingsfromasinglenationalmetabolicmanagementcentercohort
AT xiuliguo serumuricacidtoapolipoproteina1ratioisindependentlycorrelatedwithmetabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatoticliverdiseaseintype2diabetesmellitusfindingsfromasinglenationalmetabolicmanagementcentercohort
AT meitu serumuricacidtoapolipoproteina1ratioisindependentlycorrelatedwithmetabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatoticliverdiseaseintype2diabetesmellitusfindingsfromasinglenationalmetabolicmanagementcentercohort
AT xiupingqiu serumuricacidtoapolipoproteina1ratioisindependentlycorrelatedwithmetabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatoticliverdiseaseintype2diabetesmellitusfindingsfromasinglenationalmetabolicmanagementcentercohort
AT weiwang serumuricacidtoapolipoproteina1ratioisindependentlycorrelatedwithmetabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatoticliverdiseaseintype2diabetesmellitusfindingsfromasinglenationalmetabolicmanagementcentercohort