Methylglyoxal Independently Contributes to Liver Fibrosis in Obesity: Study

Key findings

• Plasma MGO levels were significantly increased in people with type 2 diabetes (median: 288 nmol/L; IQR: 257–334 nmol/L) versus those without diabetes (median: 238 nmol/L; IQR: 212–279 nmol/L). MGO also rose higher in men (267 nmol/L; IQR: 236–301 nmol/L) than in women (245 nmol/L; IQR: 214–288 nmol/L).

• The same tendencies were seen for GO and 3-DG, suggesting that dicarbonyl stress is greater in men and people with diabetes.

 Plasma concentrations of MGO, GO, and 3-DG were positively correlated with higher scores for FIB-4 Index, a very high correlation with liver fibrosis.

• That is, correlation coefficients (rho) were 0.21 for MGO, 0.29 for GO, and 0.25 for 3-DG, and all were statistically significant (p < 0.05).

• In multiple linear regression models controlling for several potential confounders (age, sex, BMI, smoking status, alcohol intake, hypertension, insulin resistance, HbA1c, and fasting glucose), the relationship between MGO and the FIB-4 Index continued to hold strong.

This study highlights dicarbonyl stress especially from methylglyoxal as a significant and independent contributor to liver fibrosis in obese individuals, even in the absence of diabetes.

Reference:

Akinrimisi, O. I., Koning, M., Scheijen, J. L. J. M., Meijnikman, A. S., Sindhunata, D. P., Bruin, S., van de Laar, A., Franken, R., Acherman, Y., Gerdes, V. E. A., Nieuwdorp, M., Schalkwijk, C. G., & Hanssen, N. M. J. (2025). Higher plasma dicarbonyl levels are associated with liver fibrosis in obese individuals. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.16643