Serum uric acid as a biomarker for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: insights from ultrasound elastography in a Chinese cohort

Abstract Background To evaluate the association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), defined as excessive fat accumulation in the liver accompanied by at least one cardiometabolic risk factor, reflecting metabolic abnormalities as...

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Main Authors: Zhe Chang, Zhe Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Gastroenterology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03666-9
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author Zhe Chang
Zhe Liu
author_facet Zhe Chang
Zhe Liu
author_sort Zhe Chang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background To evaluate the association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), defined as excessive fat accumulation in the liver accompanied by at least one cardiometabolic risk factor, reflecting metabolic abnormalities associated with the condition, in a Chinese adult population. Methods This study included 3829 participants aged ≥ 18 years who underwent abdominal transient elastography and had complete SUA data. SUA was categorized into low, medium, and high tertiles. Hepatic steatosis was defined as a controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) ≥ 248 dB/m. MASLD diagnosis followed the latest definitions by relevant liver disease associations. Logistic regression analyzed the association between SUA and MASLD. Restricted cubic spline regression assessed non-linear relationships. Results A total of 1737 participants were diagnosed with MASLD. SUA levels were higher in the MASLD group (5.79 ± 1.50 mg/dL) than in the non-MASLD group (5.03 ± 1.35 mg/dL). SUA was linearly related to MASLD (P for nonlinearity = 0.8451). Both medium and high SUA groups had increased MASLD risk compared to the low SUA group (P < 0.05). Each unit increase in SUA was associated with a 14% higher risk of MASLD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.14, P = 0.0004). Conclusions This study highlights the association between SUA levels and MASLD, suggesting that SUA may serve as a potential biomarker for MASLD risk assessment. Monitoring SUA levels could inform preventive strategies and facilitate early intervention, contributing to improved MASLD management.
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spelling doaj-art-21c9f362b6a54a699fc790340ebdbbf92025-08-20T02:15:11ZengBMCBMC Gastroenterology1471-230X2025-02-0125111110.1186/s12876-025-03666-9Serum uric acid as a biomarker for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: insights from ultrasound elastography in a Chinese cohortZhe Chang0Zhe Liu1Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Xi’an Fengcheng HospitalDepartment of Ultrasound Medicine, Xi’an Fengcheng HospitalAbstract Background To evaluate the association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), defined as excessive fat accumulation in the liver accompanied by at least one cardiometabolic risk factor, reflecting metabolic abnormalities associated with the condition, in a Chinese adult population. Methods This study included 3829 participants aged ≥ 18 years who underwent abdominal transient elastography and had complete SUA data. SUA was categorized into low, medium, and high tertiles. Hepatic steatosis was defined as a controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) ≥ 248 dB/m. MASLD diagnosis followed the latest definitions by relevant liver disease associations. Logistic regression analyzed the association between SUA and MASLD. Restricted cubic spline regression assessed non-linear relationships. Results A total of 1737 participants were diagnosed with MASLD. SUA levels were higher in the MASLD group (5.79 ± 1.50 mg/dL) than in the non-MASLD group (5.03 ± 1.35 mg/dL). SUA was linearly related to MASLD (P for nonlinearity = 0.8451). Both medium and high SUA groups had increased MASLD risk compared to the low SUA group (P < 0.05). Each unit increase in SUA was associated with a 14% higher risk of MASLD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.14, P = 0.0004). Conclusions This study highlights the association between SUA levels and MASLD, suggesting that SUA may serve as a potential biomarker for MASLD risk assessment. Monitoring SUA levels could inform preventive strategies and facilitate early intervention, contributing to improved MASLD management.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03666-9Serum uric acidUltrasound elastographyControlled attenuation parameterLiverMASLD
spellingShingle Zhe Chang
Zhe Liu
Serum uric acid as a biomarker for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: insights from ultrasound elastography in a Chinese cohort
BMC Gastroenterology
Serum uric acid
Ultrasound elastography
Controlled attenuation parameter
Liver
MASLD
title Serum uric acid as a biomarker for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: insights from ultrasound elastography in a Chinese cohort
title_full Serum uric acid as a biomarker for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: insights from ultrasound elastography in a Chinese cohort
title_fullStr Serum uric acid as a biomarker for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: insights from ultrasound elastography in a Chinese cohort
title_full_unstemmed Serum uric acid as a biomarker for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: insights from ultrasound elastography in a Chinese cohort
title_short Serum uric acid as a biomarker for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: insights from ultrasound elastography in a Chinese cohort
title_sort serum uric acid as a biomarker for metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease insights from ultrasound elastography in a chinese cohort
topic Serum uric acid
Ultrasound elastography
Controlled attenuation parameter
Liver
MASLD
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03666-9
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