Co-variation of alanine aminotransferase levels with relative weight in blood donors

Abstract

The association between alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and body mass, sex and age was examined in 6036 consecutively tested blood donors. ALAT, age and body mass were higher in male donors than in female donors. The non-normal ALAT distribution curve normalized after In transformation, which made statistical analysis of the data more feasible. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that ALAT was influenced by sex and relative weight, in that order, and very poorly by age. It is concluded that obesity is a major cause of raised ALAT in this predominantly healthy donor population.

Key Words:

• age
• ALAT
• relative weight
• sex