Proinsulin and Adiponectin in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Liver fat, more than visceral fat is associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Although the relationship of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was studied in the light of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, the relationship of NAFLD with proinsulin and adiponectin levels reflecting the β-cells dysfunction and respectively adipocytes secretion was less studied. In 112 patients (41 men and 71 women) fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting insulin, proinsulin and adiponectin were determined. Body fat percent and trunk fat content were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (TANITA BC418). Weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, adipose tissue percent, trunk adipose tissue percent, fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and visceral fat ratio (VFR) were higher in patients with NAFLD than in patients without NAFLD, the highest value was found in patients with NAFLD and T2D. Proinsulin, proinsulin/insulin and proinsulin/adiponectin ratio were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD and T2D than all the other groups. Adiponectin was significantly lower in patients with than without NAFLD. Proinsulin/insulin ratio can be considered a marker of β-cells dysfunction only in patients with NAFLD and T2D and not in patients with NAFLD and without T2DM, emphasizing that proinsulin is not a marker of liver disease.