Liver Elasticity is associated with weight, hypertension and persisting insulin resistance in a structured obesity intervention.

Background and Aim Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fibrosis are the most common subtypes of chronic liver disease and are important comorbidities of the global epidemic of obesity with steadily rising prevalence. We aimed to quantify the effect of a multimodal 26 week weight loss program on liver elasticity measured by non-invasive transient elastography (FibroScan□).

Methods FibroScans were performed in 63 probands of the obesity outpatient clinic in Kiel at the start (T1), midpoint (T2) and end (T3) of the weight loss program. Corresponding serum biomarker levels are available at all timepoints and were related to Fibroscan results by the appropriate univariate statistics. For a subset of 6 probands, gut microbiome 16S amplicon data was analyzed in addition.

Results Liver elasticity was significantly positively correlated to both starting and end body weight of probands (R2= 0.29-0.44, p= 0.0001-0.003), but not to weight loss success during the intervention or liver biomarkers GOT, GGT or GPT. Higher T1 FibroScan values were significantly associated with the presence of hypertension (pMW-Test= 0.03) but not type 2 diabetes, possibly due to a loss of elasticity caused by increased blood circulation in the liver of hypertonic patients. We also identified a novel positive association of high T1 FibroScan values and higher insulin levels at the end of the intervention (pMW-Test= 0.04). No differences in microbiome composition in relation to FibroScan could be detected.

Conclusion In summary, our data suggest a role of liver elasticity in the persistence of insulin resistance during weight loss.

 

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Publication History

Article published online:
02 May 2023