Alanine Aminotransferase and Risk of the Metabolic Syndrome: A Linear Dose-Response Relationship

作者：Kunutsor Setor K^*; Seddoh Dorothy

来源：PLos One, 2014, 9(4): e96068.

DOI：10.1371/journal.pone.0096068

Background: Elevated baseline circulating alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level has been demonstrated to be associated with an increased risk of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), but the nature of the dose-response relationship is uncertain.
Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published prospective cohort studies to characterize in detail the nature of the dose-response relationship between baseline ALT level and risk of incident MetS in the general population. Relevant studies were identified in a literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to December 2013. Prospective studies in which investigators reported relative risks (RRs) of MetS for 3 or more categories of ALT levels were eligible. A potential nonlinear relationship between ALT levels and MetS was examined using restricted cubic splines.
Results: Of the 489 studies reviewed, relevant data were available on 29,815 non-overlapping participants comprising 2,125 incident MetS events from five prospective cohort studies. There was evidence of a linear association (P for nonlinearity = 0.38) between ALT level and risk of MetS, characterised by a graded increase in MetS risk at ALT levels 640 U/L. The risk of MetS increased by 14% for every 5 U/L increment in circulating ALT level (95% CI: 12-17%). Evidence was lacking of heterogeneity and publication bias among the contributing studies.
Conclusions: Baseline ALT level is associated with risk of the MetS in a linear dose-response manner. Studies are needed to determine whether the association represents a causal relationship.

• 出版日期2014-4-29