Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the study population and comparison between control, NAFL, and NASH groups.
| Parameters | Total Population | Control | NAFL | NASH | p-Value | Adjusted p-Value with Waist Circumference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics and clinical characteristics | ||||||
| Sex (Male) | 37 (22) | 15 (8) | 10 (6) | 12 (8) | 7.81 × 10−1 | 7.81 × 10−1 |
| Age (years) | 54.0 (46.0–60.0) |
53.0 (41.5–55.0) |
57.0 (53.2–60.0) |
57.5 (45.8–65.5) |
3.05 × 10−1 | 8.76 × 10−1 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 29.3 (24.9–31.8) |
25.3 (24.0–28.7) |
31.1 (26.6–33.0) |
31.6 (28.6–35.2) |
1.70 × 10−3 a,b | 5.11 × 10−1 |
| Diabetes Mellitus | 13 (35.1%) | 3 (20%) | 3 (30%) | 7 (58.3%) | 1.08 × 10−1 | 1.08 × 10−1 |
| Arterial Hypertension | 12 (32.4%) | 3 (20%) | 4 (40%) | 5 (41.7%) | 4.09 × 10−1 | 4.09 × 10−1 |
| Metabolic Syndrome | 16 (43.2%) | 3 (18.7%) | 4 (25%) | 9 (56.3%) | 1.60 × 10−2 a,b | 1.60 × 10−2 a,b |
| Waist Circumference (cm) | 100 (95.0–112) |
95.0 (83.5–98.0) |
106 (97.0–118) |
111 (100–120) |
2.00 × 10−3 a,b | 3.62 × 10−3 a,b |
| HOMA-IR | 3.50 (1.90–6.20) |
1.90 (1.05–2.55) |
3.30 (1.92–8.00) |
6.10 (4.80–8.88) |
1.66 × 10−4 b | 5.02 × 10−3 b |
| Biochemical parameters | ||||||
| NAS | 3 (1.75–5) | 0 | 2.5 (2–3) | 5 (4–6) | 6.16 × 10−6 b | 6.16 × 10−6 b |
| ALT (U/L) | 28.0 (22.0–51.0) |
20.0 (15.5–26.0) |
35.5 (23.2–50.5) |
48.5 (39.0–92.5) |
3.20 × 10−4 b | 9.94 × 10−5 b |
| AST (U/L) | 27.0 (20.0–39.0) |
20.0 (18.0–23.5) |
27.0 (23.8–31.0) |
43.5 (35.8–52.2) |
6.44 × 10−5 b | 1.14 × 10−4 b |
| GGT (U/L) | 23.0 (13.0–54.0) |
13.0 (11.0–20.0) |
25.0 (18.5–56.2) |
52.5 (35.0–93.5) |
2.23 × 10−3 b | 4.82 × 10−2 |
| ALP (U/L) | 72.0 (55.0–93.0) |
58.0 (53.5–89.0) |
77.5 (62.8–96.8) |
86.5 (64.8–94.2) |
2.81 × 10−1 | 6.58 × 10−1 |
| Insulin (μlU/mL) | 12.3 (7.40–25.8) |
9.50 (4.40–11.2) |
14.4 (7.45–31.6) |
25.4 (21.9–27.8) |
2.00 × 10−4 b | 3.53 × 10−2 b |
| Platelets (×103) (K/μL) | 226 (182–274) |
217 (206–255) |
253 (187–314) |
215 (175–251) |
3.69 × 10−1 | 4.22 × 10−1 |
| HbA1c (%) | 5.50 (5.20–6.00) |
5.40 (5.10–5.70) |
5.50 (5.22–5.75) |
6.15 (5.72–7.02) |
4.67 × 10−2 b | 1.32 × 10−1 |
| FBG (mg/dL) | 96.0 (88.0–110) |
89.0 (84.5–96.5) |
94.5 (85.0–111) |
109 (94.8–134) |
6.25 × 10−2 | 1.86 × 10−1 |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | 185 (147–202) |
177 (155–200) |
192 (125–215) |
192 (168–200) |
5.66 × 10−1 | 5.83 × 10−1 |
| LDL-c (mg/dL) | 101 (77.0–126) |
99.0 (76.0–128) |
114 (60.5–126) |
96.0 (81.0–120) |
8.61 × 10−1 | 8.32 × 10−1 |
| HDL-c (mg/dL) | 50.0 (42.0–60.0) |
56.0 (53.5–64.0) |
45.5 (32.2–54.8) |
43.0 (40.8–49.2) |
6.30 × 10−3 b | 5.02 × 10−2 |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 116 (85.0–178) |
84.0 (60.0–100) |
128 (95.2–150) |
192 (144–283) |
2.00 × 10−4 b | 1.26 × 10−3 b |
| Ferritin (ng/mL) | 149 (79.7–249) |
97.0 (65.2–160) |
136 (84.4–293) |
200 (140–564) |
2.75 × 10−2 b | 2.98 × 10−1 |
| Uric acid (mg/dL) | 4.90 (4.30–5.80) |
4.80 (4.00–5.10) |
4.85 (4.70–5.92) |
5.60 (4.40–6.75) |
3.00 × 10−2 b | 2.48 × 10−1 |
| Albumin (gr/dL) | 4.58 (4.38–4.70) |
4.60 (4.36–4.70) |
4.57 (4.51–4.68) |
4.50 (4.36–4.62) |
1.00 × 10−2 b | 4.89 × 10−1 |
Continuous variables are presented as median (25th–75th percentile). Categorical parameters are presented as counts and percentages for each parameter’s category. A one-way ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests were conducted for normally and non-normally distributed continuous parameters, respectively, while a Chi-square (χ2) test was conducted for the categorical variables, in order to assess the statistical significance of the comparison between the three distinct NAFLD groups. The threshold for statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Abbreviations: BMI Body Mass Index, HDL-c high-density lipoprotein, LDL-c low-density lipoprotein, ALT Alanine transaminase, AST Aspartate Aminotransferase, GGT Gamma-glutamyl Transferase, ALP Alkaline Phosphatase, FBG Fasting Plasma Glucose. Statistically significant parameters between the groups: a control–NAFL, b control–NASH.