The Gut-Liver Axis in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Association of Intestinal Permeability with Disease Severity and Treatment Outcomes

Table 2

Comparison of clinical parameters in NAFLD patients with normal or elevated intestinal permeability.

	Normal intestinal permeability (N = 111)	Elevated intestinal permeability (N = 79)	value
Liver test parameters
ALT (U/L)	18.00 (13.00–24.50)	24.00 (18.00–36.00)	˂0.001
	(n = 109)	(n = 75)
AST (U/L)	19.00 (16.00–23.00)	21.00 (19.00–29.00)	˂0.001
	(n = 109)	(n = 75)
GGT (U/L)	24.50 (18.00–32.53)	28.05 (20.95–45.50)	0.022
	(n = 92)	(n = 66)
TBIL (μmol/L)	11.00 (9.15–14.30)	12.90 (10.40–15.50)	0.010
	(n = 109)	(n = 75)
DBIL (μmol/L)	3.35 (2.70–4.30)	3.70 (2.80–4.80)	0.218
	(n = 108)	(n = 74)
IBIL (μmol/L)	7.80 (6.50–9.80)	9.20 (7.50–11.40)	0.003
	(n = 108)	(n = 75)
Liver ultrasonographic parameters
LSM (kPa)	6.70 (5.58–8.80)	6.80 (5.80–8.30)	0.924
	(n = 106)	(n = 76)
FAP (dB/m)	259.50 (247.00–285.00)	276.00 (255.00–295.50)	0.001
	(n = 106)	(n = 77)
Metabolic parameters
TG (mmol/L)	1.37 (0.99–2.20)	1.68 (1.15–2.44)	0.023
	(n = 104)	(n = 73)
TC (mmol/L)	4.70 (4.27–5.78)	4.98 (4.52–5.79)	0.096
	(n = 104)	(n = 73)
HDL (mmol/L)	1.10 (0.96–1.30)	1.14 (1.00–1.25)	0.814
	(n = 104)	(n = 73)
LDL (mmol/L)	2.82 (2.23–3.62)	3.04 (2.50–3.60)	0.258
	(n = 104)	(n = 73)
HOMA-IR value	1.83 (0.74–2.62)	2.71 (1.14–3.91)	0.020
	(n = 110)	(n = 79)
Intestinal parameters
DAO (U/L)	4.54 (2.66–9.80)	6.15 (3.20–12.45)	0.025
LPS (U/L)	9.20 (4.39–10.51)	9.30 (4.18–11.22)	0.355

ALT, alanine transaminase; AST, aspartate transaminase; DAO, diamine oxidase; DBIL, direct bilirubin; FAP, fat attenuation parameter; GGT, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; HOMA-IR, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance; IBIL, indirect bilirubin; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; LSM, liver stiffness measurement; NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; TBIL, total bilirubin; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglyceride. Normal intestinal permeability was defined as D-lactate<15 U/L, and elevated intestinal permeability was defined as D-lactate≥15 U/L. Significant P values are indicated in bold font.