Abstract
Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a common hepatic disorder marked by the accumulation of lipids in the liver,
frequently accompanied by metabolic disturbances, including insulin resistance (IR), a condition where cells become less responsive
to insulin's glucose-lowering effects, important in the evolution and progression of NAFLD.
Objective: To evaluate the degree of IR and β-cell function among patients with NAFLD.
Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 75 patients diagnosed with NAFLD and 81 control subjects. Fasting blood glucose,
glycated haemoglobin and insulin were determined in all participants. In addition, insulin resistance and pancreatic ß- cell function
were estimated by HOMA-IR and HOMA-B equations respectively.
Results: HOMA-IR and HOMA-B were significantly higher among patients with NAFLD (3.59 ± 3.52, 277.57 ± 169.89) than controls
(2.56±1.39, 153.46±106.17) respectively, with the comparative P < 0.05 and P < 0.001. In addition, FBG, HbA1c and insulin were
significantly higher among patients with NAFLD than control subjects, P < 0.01.
Conclusion: The strong association between HOMA-IR and NAFLD imply the role of IR in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. The
significant elevation of HOMA-B among patients with NAFLD reflects the degree of hyperinsulinaemia secondary to IR.
Main Subjects
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