ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
The Associations of Physical Activity and Adiposity with Alanine Aminotransferase and Gamma-Glutamyltransferase
1 Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, United Kingdom
2 Division of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Correspondence to Dr. Debbie A. Lawlor, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol Medical School, Canynge Hall, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2PR, United Kingdom (e-mail: d.a.lawlor{at}bristol.ac.uk).
The mechanisms linking obesity and inactivity to diabetes mellitus are unclear. Recent studies have shown associations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) with diabetes. In a random sample of 3,789 British women aged 60–79 years, the authors examined the associations of obesity and physical activity with ALT and GGT (1999–2001). Both body mass index and waist:hip ratio were independently (of each other, physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking, and childhood and adulthood social class) positively and linearly associated with ALT and GGT. In adjusted models, a one-standard-deviation increase in body mass index was associated with a 0.46-units/liter (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.16, 0.75) increase in ALT and a 2.14-units/liter (95% CI: 0.99, 3.30) increase in GGT. Similar results for a one-standard-deviation increase in waist:hip ratio were 13.96 (95% CI: 10.44, 17.48) for ALT and 39.44 (95% CI: 25.89, 52.98) for GGT. Frequency of physical activity was inversely and linearly associated with GGT in fully adjusted models, but the inverse association with ALT was attenuated towards the null after adjustment for body mass index and waist:hip ratio. Adjustment for ALT and GGT resulted in some attenuation of the strong linear associations of body mass index and waist:hip ratio with diabetes. These findings provide some support for the suggestion that the relation between obesity and diabetes is, at least in part, mediated by liver pathology.
alanine transaminase; body composition; body mass index; diabetes mellitus; exercise; gamma-glutamyltransferase; obesity; waist-hip ratio
Abbreviations: ALT, alanine aminotransferase; CI, confidence interval; GGT, gamma-glutamyltransferase
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  A Fraser, S Ebrahim, G Davey Smith, and D A Lawlor The associations between height components (leg and trunk length) and adult levels of liver enzymes J. Epidemiol. Community Health, January 1, 2008; 62(1): 48 - 53. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. Sattar, A. McConnachie, I. Ford, A. Gaw, S. J. Cleland, N. G. Forouhi, P. McFarlane, J. Shepherd, S. Cobbe, and C. Packard Serial Metabolic Measurements and Conversion to Type 2 Diabetes in the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study: Specific Elevations in Alanine Aminotransferase and Triglycerides Suggest Hepatic Fat Accumulation as a Potential Contributing Factor Diabetes, April 1, 2007; 56(4): 984 - 991. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Perseghin, G. Lattuada, F. De Cobelli, F. Ragogna, G. Ntali, A. Esposito, E. Belloni, T. Canu, I. Terruzzi, P. Scifo, et al. Habitual Physical Activity Is Associated With Intrahepatic Fat Content in Humans Diabetes Care, March 1, 2007; 30(3): 683 - 688. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. M. Grundy Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase: Another Biomarker for Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., January 1, 2007; 27(1): 4 - 7. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. PUUKKA, J. HIETALA, H. KOIVISTO, P. ANTTILA, R. BLOIGU, and O. NIEMELA AGE-RELATED CHANGES ON SERUM GGT ACTIVITY AND THE ASSESSMENT OF ETHANOL INTAKE Alcohol Alcohol., September 1, 2006; 41(5): 522 - 527. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Puukka, J. Hietala, H. Koivisto, P. Anttila, R. Bloigu, and O. Niemela Additive effects of moderate drinking and obesity on serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity. Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2006; 83(6): 1351 - 1354. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Stranges, M. Trevisan, J. M. Dorn, J. Dmochowski, and R. P. Donahue Body Fat Distribution, Liver Enzymes, and Risk of Hypertension: Evidence From the Western New York Study Hypertension, November 1, 2005; 46(5): 1186 - 1193. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 JournalScan Gut, October 1, 2005; 54(10): 1480 - 1480. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|