Association between cardiovascular health and markers of liver function: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2005–2018

BackgroundCardiovascular health (CVH) has been associated with various systemic diseases. However, the relationship between CVH, as measured by Life’s Essential 8 (LE8), and liver function markers in the general population remains poorly understood.MethodsThis study analyzed data from 21,156 partici...

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Main Authors: Huang Yu, Tingyi Zhang, Yankun Liu, Wang Wang, Ziyi Guan, Ping Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1538654/full
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author Huang Yu
Tingyi Zhang
Yankun Liu
Wang Wang
Ziyi Guan
Ping Li
author_facet Huang Yu
Tingyi Zhang
Yankun Liu
Wang Wang
Ziyi Guan
Ping Li
author_sort Huang Yu
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundCardiovascular health (CVH) has been associated with various systemic diseases. However, the relationship between CVH, as measured by Life’s Essential 8 (LE8), and liver function markers in the general population remains poorly understood.MethodsThis study analyzed data from 21,156 participants (aged ≥ 20) from the NHANES 2005–2018 to investigate the associations between CVH and liver function markers [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin and AST/ALT ratio]. Linear regression models were used, along with a restricted cubic spline (RCS) to assess dose-response. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and quantile g-computation (QGC) analyses were employed to evaluate the association between CVH and liver function markers.ResultsLinear regression analysis showed that each 1-point increase in CVH score was significantly associated with decreased levels of liver enzymes [ALT: −0.200 U/L (95% CI: −0.223, −0.176), AST: −0.043 U/L (−0.062, −0.024), GGT: −0.453 U/L (−0.509, −0.397), ALP: −0.310 U/L (−0.340, −0.281)] and increased levels of albumin [0.040 g/dL (0.036, 0.045)] and AST/ALT ratio [0.0056 (0.0051, 0.0061)]. Notably, CVH score demonstrated non-linear dose-response relationships with ALT, ALP, and AST/ALT ratio. Age significantly modified these associations, while nicotine exposure, BMI, and blood lipids were identified as primary contributors through WQS and QGC analyses. E-value analysis suggested robustness to unmeasured confounding.ConclusionThis study demonstrates robust associations between CVH and liver function markers in United States adults, with nicotine exposure, BMI, and blood lipids identified as significant contributors. These findings suggest that maintaining optimal cardiovascular health may have beneficial effects on liver function, highlighting potential targets for integrated prevention strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-af8d3016fdcd4622a89290e234d3204d2025-08-20T02:04:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-03-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15386541538654Association between cardiovascular health and markers of liver function: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2005–2018Huang YuTingyi ZhangYankun LiuWang WangZiyi GuanPing LiBackgroundCardiovascular health (CVH) has been associated with various systemic diseases. However, the relationship between CVH, as measured by Life’s Essential 8 (LE8), and liver function markers in the general population remains poorly understood.MethodsThis study analyzed data from 21,156 participants (aged ≥ 20) from the NHANES 2005–2018 to investigate the associations between CVH and liver function markers [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin and AST/ALT ratio]. Linear regression models were used, along with a restricted cubic spline (RCS) to assess dose-response. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and quantile g-computation (QGC) analyses were employed to evaluate the association between CVH and liver function markers.ResultsLinear regression analysis showed that each 1-point increase in CVH score was significantly associated with decreased levels of liver enzymes [ALT: −0.200 U/L (95% CI: −0.223, −0.176), AST: −0.043 U/L (−0.062, −0.024), GGT: −0.453 U/L (−0.509, −0.397), ALP: −0.310 U/L (−0.340, −0.281)] and increased levels of albumin [0.040 g/dL (0.036, 0.045)] and AST/ALT ratio [0.0056 (0.0051, 0.0061)]. Notably, CVH score demonstrated non-linear dose-response relationships with ALT, ALP, and AST/ALT ratio. Age significantly modified these associations, while nicotine exposure, BMI, and blood lipids were identified as primary contributors through WQS and QGC analyses. E-value analysis suggested robustness to unmeasured confounding.ConclusionThis study demonstrates robust associations between CVH and liver function markers in United States adults, with nicotine exposure, BMI, and blood lipids identified as significant contributors. These findings suggest that maintaining optimal cardiovascular health may have beneficial effects on liver function, highlighting potential targets for integrated prevention strategies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1538654/fullCVHliver functionNHANEScross-sectional studyrelationship
spellingShingle Huang Yu
Tingyi Zhang
Yankun Liu
Wang Wang
Ziyi Guan
Ping Li
Association between cardiovascular health and markers of liver function: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2005–2018
Frontiers in Medicine
CVH
liver function
NHANES
cross-sectional study
relationship
title Association between cardiovascular health and markers of liver function: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2005–2018
title_full Association between cardiovascular health and markers of liver function: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2005–2018
title_fullStr Association between cardiovascular health and markers of liver function: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2005–2018
title_full_unstemmed Association between cardiovascular health and markers of liver function: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2005–2018
title_short Association between cardiovascular health and markers of liver function: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2005–2018
title_sort association between cardiovascular health and markers of liver function a cross sectional study from nhanes 2005 2018
topic CVH
liver function
NHANES
cross-sectional study
relationship
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1538654/full
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