Neutrophil/HDL Cholesterol Ratio Linked to NAFLD in Healthy Population: Study Reveals
China: A recent study published in Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, and Obesity shed light on a potential biomarker that could aid in detecting non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among seemingly healthy individuals. The study, which investigated the association between the neutrophil/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHR) and NAFLD, suggests a significant correlation that could inform preventive strategies and early intervention.
The researchers revealed that NHR is associated with NAFLD, a good predictor of NAFLD in a healthy population.
The study stated that a higher neutrophil-HDL cholesterol ratio significantly predicted non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among healthy individuals. Elevated NHR levels corresponded with a higher NAFLD prevalence, with odds ratios of 1.166 and 1.248 in different models. An area under the curve of 0.676 confirmed the predictive accuracy of the NHR-based model.
NAFLD, characterized by fat accumulation in the liver without alcohol consumption, has emerged as a prevalent health concern globally. Often asymptomatic in its early stages, NAFLD can progress to more severe conditions such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver fibrosis, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. Zhuoya Jia, Graduate School of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China, and colleagues aimed to investigate the relationship between NHR and NAFLD in a healthy population.
The cross-sectional study included 1881 healthy people who underwent a physical examination from August to December 2023 at the Hebei General Hospital. Ultimately, 936 individuals were included following meticulous propensity matching and adherence to strict exclusion criteria. The fatty liver diagnosis was made using ultrasound, and a Mann–Whitney test and t-test were used to compare the clinical characteristics of participants between groups with and without fatty liver.
Logistic regression was employed to develop a revised model incorporating NHR. Researchers evaluated the predictive accuracy of both NHR and the updated model for identifying NAFLD in a healthy population using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.
The following were the key findings of the study:
- NHR levels were higher among participants in the NAFLD group than those without NAFLD.
- NHR is a risk factor for NAFLD in a healthy population.
- The odds ratios (ORs) of NHR for predicting NAFLD in Model I (adjusted for sex, age, and BMI) and Model II (adjusted for sex, age, BMI, HbA1c, TC, TG, and ALT) were 1.166 and 1.248.
- The new model created by logistic regression predicted NAFLD with an area under the curve of 0.676.
- Compared to participants in the low NHR group, the high NHR group exhibited a higher prevalence of NAFLD.
"In the study, the neutrophil-HDL cholesterol ratio emerged as a significant independent risk factor for NAFLD among individuals in a healthy population," the researchers concluded.
Reference:
Jia Z, Li Z, Chen S. The Association Between Neutrophil/High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in a Healthy Population. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2024;17:2597-2605. https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S464406
