• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.22-30
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• 2019

Objectives The aim of this study is to investigate the related factors of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods The subjects were 187 persons diagnosed as fatty liver by abdominal ultrasonography. They were divided into three groups according to the severity of fatty liver: control, mild, moderate or severe. The three groups' general characteristics, laboratory results, liver function indexes, metabolic syndrome indexes, tumor markers, heart rate variability values and Sasang constitution distribution were compared and analyzed. Results Male ratio, height, weight, body mass index, red blood cell count, hemoglobin level and creatinine level were higher in NAFLD groups than in control group. The levels of sodium and amylase were higher in control than in NAFLD. In liver function, the levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transpepsidase of NAFLD were higher. In metabolic syndrome index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were higher in NAFLD, while high density lipoprotein cholesterol level was higher in control. The alpha-feto protein level was higher in NAFLD, and the heart rate variability was not different between NAFLD and control groups. In Sasang constitution, Taeeumin ratio of NAFLD was higher than of control. Conclusions The results suggest that nonalcoholic fatty liver is clinically related to liver dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, tumor markers, and Sasang constitution. Further studies are needed to control nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and prevent severe disease such as cirrhosis and cancer caused by fatty liver.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.225-231
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• 2008

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with various metabolic abnormalities, including central obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and high blood pressure. This suggests that NAFLD may represent the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. In this study, we investigated unfavorable effects NAFLD on components of metabolic syndrome in post-menopause women. Eight hundred sixty-nine postmenopausal women were recruited for this study. The diagnosis of fatty liver was based on the results of abdominal ultrasonography. Serum levels of fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol were measured. The prevalence of component of metabolic syndrome such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and low-HDL-cholesterol was significantly higher in subjects with NAFLD as compared with those without NAFLD. The moderate to severe grade of NAFLD presented higher levels of serum fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, and triglycerides than the mild NAFLD and the normal group. In conclusion, metabolic syndrome risk was increased in post-menopause women with NAFLD as compared with those without NAFLD. The severity of NAFLD affected metabolic syndrome risk factors. The optimal strategy for the treatment of NAFLD is likely to include lifestyle modifications and therapy to improve insulin resistance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.349-357
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of ultrasonographic classification of fatty liver in three grades. From June 2018 to April 2019, 1047 patients (818 males and 229 females) diagnosed as fatty liver among 3607 patients who underwent abdominal ultrasonography at Busan screening center. Ultrasonography was classified into three grades: Grade I (mild fatty liver), Grade II (moderate fatty liver), and Grade III (severe fatty liver) according to the degree of parenchyma texture, acoustic attenuation, Obesity index, hematological test, and metabolic syndrome. The average age of men in each sex increased with the increase of the fatty liver. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were significantly increased in both men and women (p=.000). hematological analysis showed that AST, ALT, ${\gamma}-GTP$, TG, fasting blood sugar, and glycated hemoglobin were significantly different from each other (p<.05). In women, ALT, ${\gamma}-GTP$ and TG showed a significant difference with increasing fatty liver (p<.05). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly increased in both sexes as the grade of fatty liver increased (p=.000). Based on the results of this study, it is suggested that the use of ultrasound - guided fatty liver according to severity may be useful for the treatment and follow - up of fatty liver if the liver grade is divided in consideration of hematological variables and metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.380-389
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• 2021

Metabolic syndrome (MS) refers to a clustering of at least three of the following medical conditions: high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, low high-density lipoprotein level, and high serum triglycerides. MS is related to a wide range of diseases which includes obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. There remains an ongoing need for improved treatment strategies for MS. The most important risk factors are dietary pattern, genetics, old age, lack of exercise, disrupted biology, medication usage, and excessive alcohol consumption, but pathophysiology of MS has not been completely identified. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) refers to steamed/dried ginseng, traditionally associated with beneficial effects such as anti-inflammation, anti-fatigue, anti-obesity, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer effects. KRG has been often used in traditional medicine to treat multiple metabolic conditions. This paper summarizes the effects of KRG in MS and related diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on experimental research and clinical studies.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the associations of non alcoholic fatty liver with metabolic syndrome and the serum carotenoids. Methods : This study was conducted in a general hospital in South Korea from November, 2004 to August, 2005. The study subjects were 350 sampled persons who were aged from 40 years and older (males : 180, females : 170). They were grouped into the normal, mild and severe groups according to fat accumulation in their livers, as determined by ultrasonography. We analyzed the association between non alcoholic fatty liver and metabolic syndrome by multiple logistic regression analysis and we analyzed the association between non alcoholic fatty liver and the serum carotenoids by a general linear model(ANCOVA). Results : After adjustment for the effect of potential covariates, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was associated with fat accumulation in the liver (p trend <0.001). If the odds ratio of normal group is 1.00, then that of the mild group is 2.80 (95% C.I=1.17-6.71) and that of the severe group is 7.29 (95% C.I=2.76-19.30). The prevalence of metabolic alterations fitting the criteria of metabolic syndrome, according to the class of fat accumulation in the liver, was significantly increased, except for criteria of high blood pressure, a large waist circumference and low HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol level (p trend <0.001). The level of serum ${\beta}$-carotene was decreased according to the class of fat accumulation in the liver (p trend=0.036), but the levels of serum ${\alpha}$-carotene, lycopene, ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin and lutein were not decreased. Conclusions : This study shows that non alcoholic fatty liver was associated with metabolic syndrome and with the serum ${\beta}$-carotene level.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2011

We evaluated whether liver markers such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), and bilirubin have a relationship with other physiological factors in the normal (n=115) and fatty liver subjects (n=122) and there are differences between the two populations. Body indices were higher in the fatty liver group than in the normal group. Liver markers and blood pressure (BP) were greater in the fatty liver group than in the normal group. AST and ALT levels were positively correlated with body indices in the fatty liver group, but not in the normal group. AST, ALT and GGT levels in the fatty liver group had positive relationship with cardiovascular indices (CI). ALP and bilirubin levels were negatively associated with some of CI. Liver markers were negatively or positively correlated with inflammatory markers, thyroid hormones, or several biochemical markers levels. These findings suggest that abnormal changes in liver markers may be useful tool for diagnosis or prognosis of development of cardiovascular and/or inflammatory diseases as well as metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.943-952
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• 2022

As a test for diagnosing fatty liver, recently, ultrasound and blood exam are being performed simultaneously. In particular, in the case of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in blood exam, it is used as an index indicating the level of inflammation in various parts of the body as well as cardiovascular diseases. Thus, this study was conducted to analyze the association between metabolic syndrome components, liver function, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels according to the degree of nonalcoholic fatty liver, and use it as a clinical indicator for fatty liver diagnosis. Metabolic syndrome components, liver function and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein blood test values analyzed from 1,139 men and women over 20 years of age with nonalcoholic fatty liver in abdominal ultrasonography from March 2021 to August 2021 at the Korea Association of Health Promotion, Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch. Analyzed for all men and women, the blood test values for subjects with mild fatty liver were AST 30 U/L, ALT 32.1 U/L, γ-GTP 41.2 IU/L, and hs-CRP 0.14 mg/dL. These values were lower than the blood test values of subjects with moderate fatty liver (AST 38 U/L, ALT 47.6 U/L, γ-GTP 54.9 IU/L, hs-CRP 0.22 mg/dL) and was statistically significant (p<0.001). In this case of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein test, it is statistically significant, showing higher values in Subjects with moderate fatty liver than Subjects with mild fatty liver. thus, it is considered that hs-CRP can be used as clinical data for the prevention and management of fatty liver.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.299-310
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• 2023

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a complex disorder characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption. It is one of the most common liver diseases worldwide, affecting approximately 25% of the global population. It is closely associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Moreover, NAFLD can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which can cause liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, there are no approved drugs for the treatment of NAFLD. Therefore, the development of effective drugs is essential for NAFLD treatment. In this article, we discuss the experimental models and novel therapeutic targets for NAFLD. Additionally, we propose new strategies for the development of drugs for NAFLD.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.823-833
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• 2012

Now a days, number of non alcoholic fatty liver patients are increasing more rapidly compare to past rate, and the average age of patients is getting younger, but there are no appropriate therapeutics in non alcoholic fatty liver disease. This study was aimed to analyze relationship between non alcoholic fatty liver disease and Injinho-tang. The papers were collected and analysed from domestic and international journals. The effects of Injinho-tang and constituent-herb were researched. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was induced complex causes of the metabolic syndrome. Medications that can be used in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, it should be have many effects such as anti-hepatic fibrosis, hepatocyte protection, liver cancer inhibitory effect, inflammatory cytokine regulation, improving hyperlipidemia, weight control, decrease the toxicity of the drug, antioxidant. Injinho-tang (Artemisia capillaris Thunb, Gardenia fructus, Rhei rhizome) has been widely used in disease that causes jaundice and liver biliary disease. Drugs for standardization of Injinho-tang index components(6,7-Dimethylesculetin, geniposide, rhein) have been presented. And Injinho-tang has been proven reliability in the administration of single dose toxicity. Also clinical stability in the administration of four years was reported. Injinho-tang has been reported some effects which anti-hepatic fibrosis, hepatocyte protection, liver cancer inhibitor, inflammatory cytokine regulation, improving hyperlipidemia, weight control, decrease the toxicity of the drug, and antioxidant. Therefore, Injinho-tang can be used in Non alcoholic fatty liver disease without Syndrome Differentiation.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.199-206
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• 2016

Purpose: To analyze the associations among the degrees of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by ultrasonography and metabolic syndrome, degrees of obesity in children, and degrees of parental obesity. Methods: A total of 198 children with obesity who visited a pediatric obesity clinic were prospectively enrolled in this study. The severity of NAFLD based on ultrasonography was classified into no, mild, moderate, or severe NAFLD group. The degree of obesity based on the percentage over standard weight for height per sex was classified into mild, moderate, or severe. Results: Of 132 patients evaluated for the degree of NAFLD and metabolic syndrome, the p-value of correlation between the two factors was 0.009. Therefore, metabolic syndrome might significantly affect the degree of NAFLD. Of 158 patients evaluated for the degree of NAFLD and the degree of obesity, the p-value of correlation between the two factors was 0.122. Of 154 patients evaluated for the degree of obesity and father's obesity, the p-value was 0.076. Of 159 patients evaluated for the degree of obesity and mother's obesity, the p-value was 0.000, indicating that mother's obesity could significantly affect the degree of obesity in children. Of 142 patients evaluated for the degree of obesity and metabolic syndrome, the p-value was 0.288. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome might significantly affect the degree of nonalcoholic fatty liver in children. In addition, mother's obesity might be a significant factor that affects the degree of obesity in children.