Table 1. Demographic, anthropometric and biochemical baseline data of patients with NAFLD and control individuals.

Variable (unit)	Control group #1	Control group #2	NAFLD
Gender	32 M/12 F	10 M/4 F	22 M/50 F
Age(years)	50.50±4.90	56.00±6.11	59.50±4.17
Body mass index(kg/m2)	23.90±1.06	24.31±3.10	32.41±1.52*
Waist Circumference (cm)	84.00±5.33	86.00±4.43	105.4±5.14**
HOMA-IR	1.31±0.32	ND	3.22±0.33**
Basal glucose (mg/dL)	93.50±1.10	93.60±2.91	95.83±6.99
Insulin (μU/mL)	5.43±0.62	ND	17.54±2.73
Total cholesterol (mg/dL)	174.50±4.12	170.00±2.22	198.8±13.30
Triglycerides(mg/dL)	111.00±3.01	109.01±4.30	165.8±25.70
Aspartate aminotransferases (IU/L)	24.00±0.62	ND	40.43±7.92
Alanineaminotransferases (IU/L)	25.00±0.71	ND	49.00±12.70

The individuals in control group #1 were recruited among staff members at the Institute of Immunology, Genetics and Metabolism at JSM Clinical Hospital. We obtained biopsies from a second control group (control group #2) consisting of 14 individuals who underwent anti-reflux surgery or cholecystectomy at the Gastroenterology División of the JSM Clinical Hospital. Patients with NAFLD were recruited at the Gastroenterology División of the José de San Martin (JSM) Clinical Hospital. Abbreviations: M, males; F, females; ND: not determined. A body mass index between 25 and 29.9 was considered overweight, whereas a value greater than 30 was considered obese. Fasting glucose and insulin were measured using commercial kits. HOMA-IR, homeostatic assessment model for insulin resistance. HOMA-IR was calculated using the following formula with fasting values: HOMA-IR = [glucose (mg/dL) * insulin (μU/mL)/405]. The reference ranges for total cholesterol and triglycerides are 150 to 199 mg/dL and 31 to 119 mg/dL, respectively. The normal alanine and aspartate aminotransferase levels are ≤32 and ≤48 IU/L, respectively. The data are presented as the mean values ± SEM.

* p< 0.05,

** p< 0.01.