No abstract

Patients with fatty liver (FL) disease have a high risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The aim was to evaluate the association between FL, insulin resistance (IR), coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, and early atherosclerosis in a large European population (RISC Study). In 1,307 nondiabetic subjects (age 30-60 years) recruited at 19 centers, we evaluated liver enzymes, lipids, insulin sensitivity (by euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp), glucose tolerance (by 75 g oral glucose tolerance test), carotid atherosclerosis as intima media thickness (IMT), CHD risk by the Framingham Heart study prediction score, and physical activity (by accelerometer). The presence of FL was estimated using the fatty liver index (FLI; >60, likelihood >78% presence FL; FLI <20 likelihood >91% absence of FL). Subjects were divided into three groups: G1: FLI <20 (n ‫؍‬ 608); G3: FLI >60

Our results are consistent with the hypothesis of a generalized remodelling of small arteries in the body, including the coronary circulation; this remodelling may play an important role in the reduction of coronary vasodilator capacity in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.