The role of adipocytokines in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with hypertension and obesity

Background. Incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing throughout the world along with epidemic of obesity (OB) and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of the study was to analyze the levels of leptin, adiponectin and leptin resistance in patients with NAFLD and OB. Mate­rials and methods. The study involved 96 patients with NAFLD. The average age of patients was 53.70 ± 5.34 years. Compensated type 2 diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 44 individuals. Fifty apparently healthy people matched by age and sex (60 % — women, 40 % — men) were included into the control group. Levels of leptin, adiponectin were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. It was found that leptin levels are much higher (1.74–2.39 times; p < 0.001) in women than in men, regardless of the type of NAFLD (steatosis or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)) and the degrees of OB. In men with steatohepatosis, the concentration of leptin prevailed over that of men with steatohepatitis — by 25.39 % (pNASH < 0.05). Additionally, in the presence of OB degree III, the content of leptin was higher than in OB degrees I and II, regardless of sex. There was an increase in the rate of leptin resistance by 22.22 % (p < 0.05) in steatosis, and by 46.15 % (p = 0.035) and 42.79 % (p = 0.044), respectively, in patients with NAFLD in general and with OB degree III. On the contrary, the concentration of anti-inflammatory adiponectin in OB degrees II and III was lower than in OB degree I by 5.73 and 5.91 % (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The course of NAFLD is accompanied by disorders in the secretory function of adipose tissue, hyperleptinemia, more severe in women, without a clear dependence of steatosis or NASH and the degree of obesity. OB degrees II and III is associated with lower content of adiponectin (p < 0.05)