J Endocrinol Metab

Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, ISSN 1923-2861 print, 1923-287X online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Endocrinol Metab and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://www.jofem.org

Short Communication

Volume 12, Number 2, April 2022, pages 73-78

Alanine Aminotransferase, Body Mass Index, and Hemoglobin A1c May Be Useful Markers for Monitoring Changes in Intrahepatic Lipid Content in Japanese Patients With Overweight or Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

**Table 1.** Clinical Characteristics of Participants
	Baseline	12 weeks	24 weeks	Change from baseline to 12 weeks	Change from baseline to 24 weeks
Data are expressed as mean ± SD. P < 0.05, P < 0.01, **P < 0.001 vs. baseline. BMI: body mass index; IHL: intrahepatic lipid; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; TG: triglyceride; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; γ-GTP: γ-glutamyl transpeptidase; HbA1c: hemoglobin A1c.
Age, years	51.5 ± 12.1
Sex, male/female	27/22
BMI, kg/m²	30.6 ± 5.9	30.0 ± 5.5***	29.6 ± 5.3***	-1.22 ± 3.75	-0.97 ± 1.46
IHL content, %	28.5 ± 14.9	20.9 ± 12.3***	19.8 ± 13.8***	-7.62 ± 9.52	-8.69 ± 10.6
LDL-cholesterol, mg/dL	125 ± 29	118 ± 26*	118 ± 28*	-6.61 ± 18.1	-11.8 ± 30.7
TG, mg/dL	150 ± 55	135 ± 61*	145 ± 70	-15.1 ± 48.5	-4.16 ± 74.2
AST, IU/L	36.2 ± 23.6	26.4 ± 13.6***	24.9 ± 13.5***	-9.80 ± 15.7	-11.3 ± 16.2
ALT, IU/L	47.7 ± 33.8	34.8 ± 23.5***	31.1 ± 20.0***	-20.2 ± 27.1	-26.4 ± 29.6
γ-GTP, IU/L	64.1 ± 71.4	47.2 ± 49.5***	43.5 ± 42.4***	-15.6 ± 27.2	-19.3 ± 40.6
HbA1c, %	7.47 ± 1.18	6.61 ± 0.95***	6.48 ± 0.88***	-0.86 ± 0.76	-0.90 ± 0.81

Table 1. Clinical Characteristics of Participants

Baseline

12 weeks

24 weeks

Change from baseline to 12 weeks

Change from baseline to 24 weeks

Data are expressed as mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. baseline. BMI: body mass index; IHL: intrahepatic lipid; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; TG: triglyceride; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; γ-GTP: γ-glutamyl transpeptidase; HbA1c: hemoglobin A1c.

Age, years

51.5 ± 12.1

Sex, male/female

27/22

BMI, kg/m²

30.6 ± 5.9

30.0 ± 5.5***

29.6 ± 5.3***

-1.22 ± 3.75

-0.97 ± 1.46

IHL content, %

28.5 ± 14.9

20.9 ± 12.3***

19.8 ± 13.8***

-7.62 ± 9.52

-8.69 ± 10.6

LDL-cholesterol, mg/dL

125 ± 29

118 ± 26*

118 ± 28*

-6.61 ± 18.1

-11.8 ± 30.7

TG, mg/dL

150 ± 55

135 ± 61*

145 ± 70

-15.1 ± 48.5

-4.16 ± 74.2

AST, IU/L

36.2 ± 23.6

26.4 ± 13.6***

24.9 ± 13.5***

-9.80 ± 15.7

-11.3 ± 16.2

ALT, IU/L

47.7 ± 33.8

34.8 ± 23.5***

31.1 ± 20.0***

-20.2 ± 27.1

-26.4 ± 29.6

γ-GTP, IU/L

64.1 ± 71.4

47.2 ± 49.5***

43.5 ± 42.4***

-15.6 ± 27.2

-19.3 ± 40.6

HbA1c, %

7.47 ± 1.18

6.61 ± 0.95***

6.48 ± 0.88***

-0.86 ± 0.76

-0.90 ± 0.81

**Table 2.** Association of Change in Clinical Variables With Change in Intrahepatic Lipid Content From Baseline to 12 and 24 Weeks
Clinical variable	Coefficient of linkage (λ) at 12 weeks	P	Coefficient of linkage (λ) at 24 weeks	P
BMI: body mass index; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; TG: triglyceride; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; γ-GTP: γ-glutamyl transpeptidase; HbA1c: hemoglobin A1c.
BMI	0.695	< 0.001	0.741	< 0.001
LDL-C	0.516	< 0.001	0.424	0.003
TG	0.282	0.047	0.034	0.815
AST	0.712	< 0.001	0.682	< 0.001
ALT	0.733	< 0.001	0.660	< 0.001
γ-GTP	0.579	< 0.001	0.462	< 0.001
HbA1c	0.740	< 0.001	0.631	< 0.001

Table 2. Association of Change in Clinical Variables With Change in Intrahepatic Lipid Content From Baseline to 12 and 24 Weeks

Clinical variable

Coefficient of linkage (λ) at 12 weeks

Coefficient of linkage (λ) at 24 weeks

BMI: body mass index; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; TG: triglyceride; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; γ-GTP: γ-glutamyl transpeptidase; HbA1c: hemoglobin A1c.

BMI

0.695

< 0.001

0.741

< 0.001

LDL-C

0.516

< 0.001

0.424

0.003

0.282

0.047

0.034

0.815

AST

0.712

< 0.001

0.682

< 0.001

ALT

0.733

< 0.001

0.660

< 0.001

γ-GTP

0.579

< 0.001

0.462

< 0.001

HbA1c

0.740

< 0.001

0.631

< 0.001

**Table 3.** Multiple Regression Analysis by Stepwise Forward Selection Method
Selected variable	Partial regression coefficient	Standard partial regression coefficient	VIF	P
VIF: variance inflation factor; IHL: intrahepatic lipid; BMI: body mass index; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; HbA1c: hemoglobin A1c.
Constant	13.1			0.097
IHL content at baseline	0.636	0.773	1.850	< 0.001
BMI at baseline	-1.93	-0.924	46.09	0.031
BMI at 12 weeks	1.66	0.746	43.98	0.072
ALT at baseline	-0.118	-0.325	5.174	0.024
ALT at 12 weeks	0.264	0.508	4.589	< 0.001
HbA1c at baseline	-3.38	-0.323	2.979	0.004
HbA1c at 12 weeks	3.16	0.240	3.768	0.049

Table 3. Multiple Regression Analysis by Stepwise Forward Selection Method

Selected variable

Partial regression coefficient

Standard partial regression coefficient

VIF

VIF: variance inflation factor; IHL: intrahepatic lipid; BMI: body mass index; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; HbA1c: hemoglobin A1c.

Constant

13.1

0.097

IHL content at baseline

0.636

0.773

1.850

< 0.001

BMI at baseline

-1.93

-0.924

46.09

0.031

BMI at 12 weeks

1.66

0.746

43.98

0.072

ALT at baseline

-0.118

-0.325

5.174

0.024

ALT at 12 weeks

0.264

0.508

4.589

< 0.001

HbA1c at baseline

-3.38

-0.323

2.979

0.004

HbA1c at 12 weeks

3.16

0.240

3.768

0.049