Non-invasive diagnosis and treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remain unmet medical needs. Aim of this study is to investigate the blood levels of three hormonal systems related to obesity, insulin resistance and inflammation in patients with different stages of NAFLD, in order to identify potential diagnostic markers. Study aim: To compare the blood levels of: a) proglucagon-derived hormones (glucagon-like peptide \[GLP\]-1, GLP-2, glicentin, oxyntomodulin, glucagon, major proglucagon fragment \[MPGF\]), b) follistatins-activins (follistatin-like (FSTL)3, activin B), c) IGF axis (insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, total and intact IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 and IGFBP-4, in 18 individuals with early stage NAFLD vs. 14 controls To explore the levels of GDF-15, total and intact, in NAFLD versus obese controls (OC) at baseline and during oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs)
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
32
Hippokration General Hospital
Thessaloniki, Greece
Proglucagon-derived hormones
glucagon-like peptide GLP-1 (pg/ml)
Time frame: baseline
Proglucagon-derived hormones
glucagon-like peptide GLP-2 (pg/ml)
Time frame: baseline
Proglucagon-derived hormones
glicentin (pmol/l)
Time frame: baseline
Proglucagon-derived hormones
oxyntomodulin (pg/ml)
Time frame: baseline
Proglucagon-derived hormones
glucagon (pg/ml)
Time frame: baseline
Proglucagon-derived hormones
major proglucagon fragment \[MPGF\]) (ng/ml)
Time frame: baseline
Follistatins-activins
follistatin-like (FSTL)3 (ng/ml)
Time frame: baseline
Follistatins-activins
activin B (pg/ml)
Time frame: baseline
IGF axis
insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 (ng/ml)
Time frame: baseline
IGF axis
total and intact IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 and IGFBP-4 (ng/ml)
Time frame: baseline
Liver ultrasound
Estimation of echogenicity, hepatomegaly, and intra-hepatic vascular blurring (1: Intermediate, 1-2: Intermediate to Moderate, 2: Moderate, 3: Severe)
Time frame: baseline
GDF-15
Total and intact Growth differentiation factor 15 (pg/mL)
Time frame: baseline
Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.
Time frame: baseline
Biochemical parameters
Glucose (mg/dl)
Time frame: baseline
Biochemical parameters
serum aspartate transaminase (AST) (U/L), ALT (U/L)
Time frame: baseline
Biochemical parameters
gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) (U/L)
Time frame: baseline
Biochemical parameters
total cholesterol (mg/dl), triglycerides (mg/dl) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (mg/dl), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (mg/dl)
Time frame: baseline
Biochemical parameters
insulin (μU/ml)
Time frame: baseline
Metabolomics and lipidomics analysis
Measured with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) by Labcorp (Morrisville, USA).
Time frame: baseline
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