The association of hepatic fat percentage with selected anthropometric and biochemical parameters at 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging

ABSTRACT

Background and aim: This relatively comprehensive and multi-parametric study was conducted to investigate an association between hepatic fat percentage (HFP) values measured using high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), anthropometric and biochemical measurements in healthy adults.

Methods: Abdominal MRI, anthropometric and biochemical measurements were determined in 156 healthy subjects. HFP values were derived from the MRI, whilst routine lipids, leptin, resistin, IL6 and adiponectin were measured by routine methods.

Results: Eighty per cent of the calculated HFP values were in the normal range of hepatic fat accumulation. Significant sex-adjusted correlations were found between HFP and waist circumference (WC) (measured by tape), BMI, leptin, resistin, WC (measured by MRI) and hip circumference (all p<0.001) and triglycerides (p=0.01). A significant inverse correlation was detected between HFP and adiponectin (p<0.001).

Conclusions: A multi-parametric approach of MRI, biochemical and anthropometric measurements could be adopted to identify subjects at risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

KEYWORDS:

• Magnetic resonance imaging
• hepatic fat percentage
• anthropometry
• lipid profile
• adipokines
• biochemistry

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Royal Medical Services for their great help and support and for allowing us to use their 3T MRI to scan our volunteers.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.