Table 1.
Study populations
| Population characteristics | Controls | NAFLD | NASH |
| Number | 16 | 15 | 17 |
| Male/female | 8/8 | 12/3 | 16/1 |
| Mean age (range) | 37 yr (26-69 yr) | 48 yr (26-75 yr) | 45 yr (20-74 yr) |
| AST (mean ± SD) | 20.6 ± 4.5 | 19.3 ± 5b | 45.2 ± 22.1d |
| ALT (mean ± SD) | 24.4 ± 7.0 | 27.4 ± 8.1b | 86.4 ± 55.7d |
| GGT (mean ± SD) | 18.3 ± 10.1 | 25.6 ± 20b | 73.1 ± 43d |
| ALP (mean ± SD) | 144.4 ± 45.4 | 154.1 ± 38.3 | 176.5 ± 57.4 |
b
P < 0.001, NAFLD vs NASH;
d
P < 0.001, NASH vs controls. AST: Aspartate aminotransferase: reference range 0-37 (IU/L); ALT: Alanine aminotransferase: reference range 0-40 (IU/L); GGT: Gamma-glutamyl transferase: reference range 7-50 (IU/L); ALP: Alkaline phosphatase: reference range 98-279 (IU/L); NASH: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; NAFLD: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.