Increased Liver Fat Content and Unfavorable Glucose Profiles in Subjects Without Diabetes

BACKGROUND: Liver fat content (LFC) in subjects without diabetes may be correlated with adverse glucose profiles. METHODS: LFC was measured by (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy in 47 healthy subjects, 35 of whom also completed continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) studies. Subjects were divided into two groups according to LFC, and between-group comparisons of glucose profiles were made. RESULTS: The median LFC value was 3.8% (interquartile range, 2.4-7.6%), and 29.8% of the subjects had LFC values ≥ 5.5%. LFC was positively correlated with triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltransferase, fasting C-peptide, fasting insulin, insulin concentration at 120 min, area under the time-concentration curve for insulin, and change in insulin from 0 to 30 min, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, fasting plasma glucose, nocturnal mean blood glucose concentration (MBG) (all P < 0.05). The 35 CGM profiles revealed that nocturnal MBG was higher in subjects with LFC ≥ 3.8% (P < 0.05). In subjects with LFC ≥ 5.5%, both diurnal and nocturnal MBG values were elevated compared with subjects with lower LFC (P < 0.05). LFC was the strongest predictive factor of nocturnal MBG. CONCLUSIONS: Even modestly elevated LFC was associated with unfavorable glucose profiles in subjects without diabetes.