Increased Liver Fat Content and Unfavorable Glucose Profiles in Subjects Without Diabetes

Background: Liver fat content (LFC) in subjects without diabetes may be correlated with adverse glucose profiles. Methods: LFC was measured by 1 H magnetic resonance spectroscopy in 47 healthy subjects, 35 of whom also completed continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) studies. Subjects were divided into two groups according to LFC, and between-group comparisons of glucose profiles were made. Results: The median LFC value was 3.8% (interquartile range, 2.4-7.6%), and 29.8% of the subjects had LFC values >= 5.5%. LFC was positively correlated with triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase, g-glutamyltransferase, fasting C-peptide, fasting insulin, insulin concentration at 120 min, area under the time-concentration curve for insulin, and change in insulin from 0 to 30 min, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, fasting plasma glucose, nocturnal mean blood glucose concentration (MBG) (all P < 0.05). The 35 CGM profiles revealed that nocturnal MBG was higher in subjects with LFC >= 3.8% (P < 0.05). In subjects with LFC >= 5.5%, both diurnal and nocturnal MBG values were elevated compared with subjects with lower LFC (P < 0.05). LFC was the strongest predictive factor of nocturnal MBG. Conclusions: Even modestly elevated LFC was associated with unfavorable glucose profiles in subjects without diabetes.