Serum levels of interleukin-1 beta associate better with severity of simple steatosis than liver function tests in morbidly obese patients

• Main Authors: Leon F Palomera, Angélica Y Gómez-Arauz, Eréndira Villanueva-Ortega, Guillermo Meléndez-Mier, Sergio A Islas-Andrade, Galileo Escobedo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2018-01-01
• Series: Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
• Subjects: Fatty liver; interleukin-1 beta; liver functions tests; morbid; obesity
• Online Access: http://www.jmsjournal.net/article.asp?issn=1735-1995;year=2018;volume=23;issue=1;spage=93;epage=93;aulast=Palomera

Background: In high-fat diet-fed mice, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) has been shown to play a key role in hepatic steatosis. However, it remains unknown whether IL-1 beta could be associated with different grades of steatosis in obese humans. Materials and Methods: Morbidly obese patients (n = 124) aged 18–65 years were divided into four groups: no steatosis (controls), mild steatosis, moderate steatosis, and severe steatosis using abdominal ultrasound. IL-1 beta serum levels and liver function tests were measured and significant differences were estimated by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test. Results: IL-1 beta serum levels significantly increased in morbidly obese patients with mild (11.38 ± 2.40 pg/ml), moderate (16.72 ± 2.47 pg/ml), and severe steatosis (23.29 ± 5.2 pg/ml) as compared to controls (7.78 ± 2.26 pg/ml). Liver function tests did not significantly change among different grades of steatosis. Conclusion: IL-1 beta serum levels associate better with steatosis degree than liver function tests in morbidly obese population.