Association of oxidative stress, inflammation, and ADIPOQ gene expression in young adults at risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease.

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Young adults with NAFLD and/or cardiovascular risk had significantly elevated MDA and IL-6 levels and reduced ADIPOQ gene expression compared to healthy controls, with MDA showing the highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.9605).

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Case-Control. Population: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and/or cardiovascular risk (n=300). Intervention: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and/or cardiovascular risk vs. Healthy age- and sex-matched individuals. Primary outcome: ADIPOQ gene expression, malondialdehyde (MDA), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels (AUC 0.9605 for MDA, p=<0.01).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Elevated oxidative stress (MDA) and inflammation are associated with reduced ADIPOQ gene expression in young adults at risk for NAFLD and CVD, with MDA serving as a highly accurate early diagnostic biomarker. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the relationship between oxidative stress (malondialdehyde), systemic inflammation (interleukin-6), and ADIPOQ gene expression in young adults at risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease.

Rachana Raveendran; A Josephine; Varalakshmi Sureka; Periandavan Kalaiselvi; Poornima Raja Raja Varma; Lasitha Neroth Kandy; Renjith Kariyil Radhakrishnan Nair; Manjusha Kottola; Midhun Thazhissery Mohanan; Swathi Thoduvayil; Thahira Abdulla; Pinchulatha Kottiyath; Dinesh Roy Divakaran

doi:10.11604/pamj.2026.53.175.47681

January 1, 2026Open Access

Association of oxidative stress, inflammation, and ADIPOQ gene expression in young adults at risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease.

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Key result

Elevated MDA identifies young adults with NAFLD and CV risk with ~96% diagnostic accuracy.

AUC 0.9605 for MDA
P<0.01
n=300

Figures

Why the study?

Oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and reduced adiponectin contribute to NAFLD and CVD, but the relationship between MDA, IL-6, and ADIPOQ gene expression in young adults needed evaluation to identify early biomarkers.

Are oxidative stress, inflammation, and ADIPOQ gene expression altered in young adults with NAFLD and/or cardiovascular risk compared to healthy controls?

Key Points

To evaluate the relationship between oxidative stress (malondialdehyde), systemic inflammation (interleukin-6), and ADIPOQ gene expression in young adults at risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease.
Conducted a case-control study (2022 December-2024 December) enrolling 300 participants aged 18-45 years, comprising 150 cases with clinically established non-alcoholic fatty liver and/or cardiovascular risk disease and 150 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
Measured serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels via ELISA and quantified ADIPOQ gene expression using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Cases showed significantly higher MDA and IL-6 concentrations and reduced ADIPOQ expression compared to healthy controls (all P < 0.01).
Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified MDA as the most accurate biomarker (AUC = 0.9605), whereas IL-6 had an AUC exceeding 0.85 but was not an independent predictor after adjusting for sociodemographic variables (OR = 0.948, 95% CI: 0.744-1.208, p > 0.05).
Both MDA and IL-6 levels negatively correlated with ADIPOQ expression across participants, while standalone ADIPOQ gene expression demonstrated poor predictive utility (AUC close to 0.5).

Study Design

Type

Case-Control (n=300)

Blinding

Blinded to case-control status for analyses

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Are oxidative stress, inflammation, and ADIPOQ gene expression altered in young adults with NAFLD and/or cardiovascular risk compared to healthy controls?

P

Population

300 young adults aged 18-45 years, comprising 150 with clinically diagnosed NAFLD and/or cardiovascular risk and 150 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

E

Exposure

Presence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and/or cardiovascular risk factors

C

Comparator

Healthy age- and sex-matched controls without diagnosed chronic conditions

O

Outcome

ADIPOQ gene expression, malondialdehyde (MDA), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levelssurrogate

Main Result

Effect estimate: AUC 0.9605 for MDA

p-value: p=<0.01

Elevated oxidative stress and inflammation are associated with suppressed ADIPOQ gene expression in young adults with cardiometabolic risk, highlighting MDA as a strong early biomarker.

Limitations

Case-control design limits causal inference
Prone to selection bias
Small sample size restricts subgroup analysis and broader generalizability
Unmeasured confounders like diet, physical activity, and medication use
Biomarkers like MDA and IL-6 are non-specific
Selection bias
Small sample size restricts subgroup analysis
Unmeasured confounders (diet, physical activity, medication)
Non-specific biomarkers

Implication

MDA may support early risk stratification in young adults; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation before clinical use.

Abstract

Introduction: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are increasingly seen in young adults due to obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet. Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are key contributors to their development, promoting liver damage, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis. Adiponectin, encoded by the ADIPOQ gene, has protective metabolic effects, and its reduction, often influenced by genetic factors, is linked to increased disease risk. This study evaluates the relationship between oxidative stress (MDA), inflammation (IL-6), and ADIPOQ gene expression in young adults to identify early biomarkers. Methods: this case-control study (2022 December-2024 December) included 300 participants aged 18-45 years with clinically established non-alcoholic fatty liver and/or cardiovascular risk disease, who were categorized as the case group. The remaining 150 healthy individuals served as the control group. MDA and IL-6 levels were measured using ELISA, while ADIPOQ expression was analyzed via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Data were analyzed using t-tests, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and quantile regression in Stata 17.0, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: cases showed elevated MDA and IL-6 levels and reduced ADIPOQ expression compared to controls. ROC analysis identified MDA as the strongest biomarker (AUC = 0.9605). IL-6 showed diagnostic potential but lost significance after adjustment for sociodemographic variables. MDA and IL-6 levels negatively correlated with ADIPOQ expression. Conclusion: oxidative stress and inflammation are associated with reduced ADIPOQ expression in young adults at risk of NAFLD and CVD. While ADIPOQ alone may have limited predictive power, early identification of oxidative and inflammatory markers could aid in timely intervention.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Raveendran et al. (2026) conducted a case-control in Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and/or cardiovascular risk (n=300). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and/or cardiovascular risk vs. Healthy age- and sex-matched individuals was evaluated on ADIPOQ gene expression, malondialdehyde (MDA), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels (AUC 0.9605 for MDA, p=<0.01). Young adults with NAFLD and/or cardiovascular risk had significantly elevated MDA and IL-6 levels and reduced ADIPOQ gene expression compared to healthy controls, with MDA showing the highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.9605).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a953aec6af7ed2fcaea0c6a https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2026.53.175.47681

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Association of oxidative stress, inflammation, and ADIPOQ gene expression in young adults at risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease.

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Association of oxidative stress, inflammation, and ADIPOQ gene expression in young adults at risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease.

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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