Low prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 1 diabetes is associated with decreased subclinical cardiovascular disease

BackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been proposed as an independent cardiovascular risk factor. The present study evaluated the prevalence of NAFLD in a cohort of type 1 diabetic (T1D) patients and its potential relationship with subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD). MethodsOne hundred T1D patients (mean [SD] age 39.47.8years, disease duration 21.78.6years) were included in the present cross-sectional study. All subjects underwent abdominal ultrasonography for detection of NAFLD, carotid ultrasonography to measure the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and atheroma plaques, and cardiac tomography for evaluation of the coronary artery calcium score (CACS). ResultsOf the study cohort, 12% had NAFLD and 23% had a CACS >0. The T1D subjects with NAFLD had a greater CIMT than those without NAFLD (0.650.17 vs 0.550.14mm; P=0.029), but there were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to CACS, glycemic control, or the presence of carotid plaques. Patients with high liver enzyme concentrations (>20U/L) had a higher CIMT (0.600.16 vs 0.540.13; P=0.04) and there was a higher proportion of altered CACS (17 [73.9%] vs 6 [26.1%]; P=0.001) and detection of carotid plaques (10 [76.9%] vs 3 [23.1%]; P=0.014) in this group. ConclusionsA low prevalence of NAFLD was found in the T1D cohort that was associated globally with a low proportion of abnormal CVD imaging markers, although these imaging parameters were worse in subjects in whom NAFLD was detected.