Liver fat content assessed by conventional B-mode ultrasound and metabolic profile in non-diabetic patients: Implications for clinical practice

Introduction: Several studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between severe hepatic steatosis and metabolic alterations; however, few studies have addressed the potential association between different grades of steatosis and clinical patterns in a non-diabetic population. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 223 non-diabetic individuals. The severity of steatosis was assessed using B-mode ultrasound. We analyzed lipid and glucose profiles according to the severity of hepatic steatosis. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values were also recorded to investigate the potential impact of steatosis on kidney function. Results: Patients with steatosis were found to have higher insulinemia and mean values of fasting plasma glucose compared to patients without steatosis. A significant decrease in high-density lipoprotein level was observed only in patients with severe or moderate steatosis. All grades of steatosis were associated with increased triglyceride levels, which were more significant in severe steatosis. Subgroup analysis by body mass index demonstrated a significant difference between lean patients with steatosis and lean patients without steatosis for triglycerides (p = 0.002) and high-density lipoprotein levels (p = 0.019). Finally, patients diagnosed with steatosis demonstrated a higher prevalence of estimated glomerular filtration rate < 90 ml/min. Conclusion: The degree of steatosis diagnosed at ultrasound may predict glucose or lipid metabolism disorders and a decline in kidney function in a non-diabetic population.