Determination of association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and carotid artery atherosclerosis among nondiabetic individuals

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition characterized by the infiltration of fat in the liver cells. High levels of fat in the liver associated with increased risk of diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between NAFLD and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) among nondiabetic individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 90 in-patients and outpatients (45 NAFL subjects and 45 patients with the normal liver as controls) with NAFL on abdomen ultrasound scan from Bangalore Baptist Hospital were included in our study. All the participants were subjected to a doppler study for carotid intima thickness and a blood sample (4 ml) was collected from all the subjects. RESULTS: In this study, there is an elevated level of BMI, weight, dyslipidemia in NAFLD compared with controls. The present study suggests that cardiovascular risk factors such as increased carotid intima-media thickness occur more frequently among NAFLD patients compared to healthy individuals. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that NAFL has a significant association with higher cardiovascular risk in terms of carotid intima-media thickness, dyslipidemia, and hypoalphalipidemia. Lifestyle changes include weight loss, dietary changes, reduction of sedentary habits and physical exercise are recommended in the NAFL disease subjects with higher BMI and weight.