Prevalence of metabolic syndrome increases with the increase in blood levels of gamma glutamyltransferase and alanine aminotransferase in Japanese men and women

Abstract

Background: Gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is reported to be an independent risk factor of diabetes and cardiovascular disease and proposed as a component of metabolic syndrome (MS). However, there are few studies examining the direct association between MS and GGT or ALT in Japanese men and women. Methods: Direct associations between GGT or ALT and MS defined by revised NCEP criteria for Japanese and between GGT or ALT and Japanese MS (JMS) defined by the Examination Committee for the Criteria of Metabolic Syndrome were examined using medical check-up data from 1,880 men and 1,079 women. Results: The prevalence of MS and JMS was significantly higher in subjects with the highest quartile of GGT or ALT than the subjects with the lowest quartile of GGT or ALT (p<0.0001 in men and p<0.0001 for MS and p<0.001 for JMS in women). The optimal cutoff points of GGT and ALT for diagnosing MS or JMS were 42 U/L or 41 U/L, respectively for GGT and both 25 U/L for ALT in men and 21 U/L or 23 U/L, respectively for GGT and 20 U/L or 25 U/L, respectively for ALT in women. Conclusion: The prevalence of MS and JMS increases with the increase in blood levels of GGT or ALT even through the normal range of GGT or ALT in Japanese men and women. © 2009 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.