Non-invasive liver fibrosis markers are increased in obese individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the metabolic syndrome
Abstract The need for early non-invasive diagnostic tools for chronic liver fibrosis is growing, particularly in individuals with obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) since prevalence of these conditions is increasing. This case-control study compared...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85508-y |
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| author | Anders Askeland Rikke Wehner Rasmussen Mimoza Gjela Jens Brøndum Frøkjær Kurt Højlund Maiken Mellergaard Aase Handberg |
| author_facet | Anders Askeland Rikke Wehner Rasmussen Mimoza Gjela Jens Brøndum Frøkjær Kurt Højlund Maiken Mellergaard Aase Handberg |
| author_sort | Anders Askeland |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The need for early non-invasive diagnostic tools for chronic liver fibrosis is growing, particularly in individuals with obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) since prevalence of these conditions is increasing. This case-control study compared non-invasive liver fibrosis markers in obesity with NAFLD and MetS (NAFLD-MetS, n = 33), in obese (n = 28) and lean (n = 27) control groups. We used MRI (T1 relaxation times (T1) and liver stiffness), circulating biomarkers (CK18, PIIINP, and TIMP1), and algorithms (FIB-4 index, Forns score, FNI, and MACK3 score) to assess their potential in predicting liver fibrosis risk. We found that T1 (892 ± 81 ms vs. 818 ± 64 ms, p < 0.001), FNI (15 ± 12% vs. 9 ± 7%, p = 0.018), CK18 (166 ± 110 U/L vs. 113 ± 41 U/L, p = 0.019), and MACK3 (0.18 ± 0.15 vs. 0.05 ± 0.04, p < 0.001) were higher in the NAFLD-MetS group compared with the obese control group. Moreover, correlations were found between CK18 and FNI (r = 0.69, p < 0.001), CK18 and T1 (r = 0.41, p < 0.001), FNI and T1 (r = 0.33, p = 0.006), MACK3 and FNI (r = 0.79, p < 0.001), and MACK3 and T1 (r = 0.50, p < 0.001). We show that liver fibrosis markers are increased in obese individuals with NAFLD and MetS without clinical signs of liver fibrosis. More studies are needed to validate the use of these non-invasive biomarkers for early identification of liver fibrosis risk. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d1e51e24ff2c4886903f3ad06b5c0852 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-d1e51e24ff2c4886903f3ad06b5c08522025-08-20T03:40:44ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-85508-yNon-invasive liver fibrosis markers are increased in obese individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the metabolic syndromeAnders Askeland0Rikke Wehner Rasmussen1Mimoza Gjela2Jens Brøndum Frøkjær3Kurt Højlund4Maiken Mellergaard5Aase Handberg6Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University HospitalDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University HospitalDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University HospitalDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg UniversitySteno Diabetes Center Odense, Odense University HospitalDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University HospitalDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University HospitalAbstract The need for early non-invasive diagnostic tools for chronic liver fibrosis is growing, particularly in individuals with obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) since prevalence of these conditions is increasing. This case-control study compared non-invasive liver fibrosis markers in obesity with NAFLD and MetS (NAFLD-MetS, n = 33), in obese (n = 28) and lean (n = 27) control groups. We used MRI (T1 relaxation times (T1) and liver stiffness), circulating biomarkers (CK18, PIIINP, and TIMP1), and algorithms (FIB-4 index, Forns score, FNI, and MACK3 score) to assess their potential in predicting liver fibrosis risk. We found that T1 (892 ± 81 ms vs. 818 ± 64 ms, p < 0.001), FNI (15 ± 12% vs. 9 ± 7%, p = 0.018), CK18 (166 ± 110 U/L vs. 113 ± 41 U/L, p = 0.019), and MACK3 (0.18 ± 0.15 vs. 0.05 ± 0.04, p < 0.001) were higher in the NAFLD-MetS group compared with the obese control group. Moreover, correlations were found between CK18 and FNI (r = 0.69, p < 0.001), CK18 and T1 (r = 0.41, p < 0.001), FNI and T1 (r = 0.33, p = 0.006), MACK3 and FNI (r = 0.79, p < 0.001), and MACK3 and T1 (r = 0.50, p < 0.001). We show that liver fibrosis markers are increased in obese individuals with NAFLD and MetS without clinical signs of liver fibrosis. More studies are needed to validate the use of these non-invasive biomarkers for early identification of liver fibrosis risk.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85508-yObesityNon-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseThe metabolic syndromeObesity phenotypeNon-invasive biomarkersLiver fibrosis risk |
| spellingShingle | Anders Askeland Rikke Wehner Rasmussen Mimoza Gjela Jens Brøndum Frøkjær Kurt Højlund Maiken Mellergaard Aase Handberg Non-invasive liver fibrosis markers are increased in obese individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the metabolic syndrome Scientific Reports Obesity Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease The metabolic syndrome Obesity phenotype Non-invasive biomarkers Liver fibrosis risk |
| title | Non-invasive liver fibrosis markers are increased in obese individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the metabolic syndrome |
| title_full | Non-invasive liver fibrosis markers are increased in obese individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the metabolic syndrome |
| title_fullStr | Non-invasive liver fibrosis markers are increased in obese individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the metabolic syndrome |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-invasive liver fibrosis markers are increased in obese individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the metabolic syndrome |
| title_short | Non-invasive liver fibrosis markers are increased in obese individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the metabolic syndrome |
| title_sort | non invasive liver fibrosis markers are increased in obese individuals with non alcoholic fatty liver disease and the metabolic syndrome |
| topic | Obesity Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease The metabolic syndrome Obesity phenotype Non-invasive biomarkers Liver fibrosis risk |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85508-y |
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