Beverage consumption in patients with metabolic syndrome and its association with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionPrevious research has examined the association between coffee and tea consumption and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Preclinical studies have indicated the potential hepatoprotective properties of cocoa/chocolate. However, clinical research on the consumption of cocoa/chocolate and soft drinks and their relation to NAFLD, particularly among individuals with metabolic syndrome, is limited. This study primarily aimed to assess the association between beverage consumption and NAFLD in these patients.MethodsThis cross-sectional study enrolled adult patients with metabolic syndrome visited the Medicine Outpatient Department at Siriraj Hospital, Thailand, from November 2011 to January 2013. The exclusion criteria were secondary causes of hepatic steatosis, such as excessive alcohol use, viral hepatitis, or drug-induced hepatitis. Participants completed a 23-item self-administered questionnaire covering their beverage consumption habits, including type, frequency, volume, duration, and additives in drinks, namely, coffee, tea, cocoa/chocolate, and soft drinks. To ensure accurate responses, these questionnaires were supplemented by face-to-face interviews. Ultrasonography was employed early in the methodology to diagnose NAFLD. Univariable analyses were used to compare the beverage consumption behaviors of participants with and without NAFLD. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for potential confounders, including total beverage energy intake, age, anthropometric data, laboratory results, and comorbidities.ResultsThis study included 505 patients with metabolic syndrome. Of these, 341 (67.5%, 95%CI: 63.2–71.6%) were diagnosed with NAFLD. The consumption rates of coffee, cocoa/chocolate, and soft drinks were similar between the two groups. However, tea consumption was significantly more common in patients with NAFLD (68.3% vs. 51.8%, p < 0.001). The groups had no significant differences in caffeine intake or total energy intake from beverages. Notably, daily intake of three or more cups of coffee was correlated with a reduced prevalence of NAFLD, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.35 (95%CI: 0.14–0.89).ConclusionThis study revealed that patients with metabolic syndrome, irrespective of NAFLD status, exhibited similar patterns of beverage consumption. While no definitive associations were identified between the intake of coffee, tea, cocoa/chocolate, or soft drinks and NAFLD, a notable exception was observed. A higher consumption of coffee (≥3 cups daily) was associated with a lower prevalence of NAFLD

Prediction of type 2 diabetes mellitus using fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels among individuals with impaired fasting plasma glucose: a cross-sectional study in Thailand

Objectives About 11%–30% of individuals with impaired fasting plasma glucose (IFG) have type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), diagnosed by the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (75 g OGTT). This study investigated (1) the prevalence and cut-off levels for fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in IFG individuals that most effectively predict the presence of T2DM diagnosed by a 75 g OGTT; (2) the predictors associated with T2DM; and (3) the pathophysiological characteristics of patients with IFG.Materials and methods A single-centre, cross-sectional study was conducted in a primary care setting. A standard 75 g OGTT was performed on 123 subjects with IFG. Their beta-cell function and insulin resistance were calculated through plasma glucose and insulin levels monitored during the 75 g OGTT.Results In the IFG subjects, the prevalence of T2DM using the 2-hour postload plasma glucose (2hPG) criterion was 28.5%. Pre-diabetes and normal glucose metabolism were found in 48.7% and 22.8%, respectively, by 75 g OGTT. An HbA1c level ≥6.0% or FPG ≥5.9 mmol/L were the optimal cut-off thresholds for the prediction of the presence of T2DM. HbA1c had a sensitivity of 76.7% and specificity of 55.7% (95% CI 57.7% to 90.1% and 95% CI 43.3% to 67.6%, respectively), while FPG had a sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 23.9% (95% CI 69.7% to 95.2% and 95% CI 15.4% to 34.1%, respectively). The presence of metabolic syndrome, a higher HbA1c and higher FPG levels were associated with the risk of T2DM in the Thai IFG population.Conclusions Almost one-third of the people with IFG had T2DM diagnosed by the 2hPG criterion. HbA1c was more effective than FPG in predicting the presence of T2DM in the IFG subjects. IFG individuals with HbA1c≥6.0% or FPG≥5.9 mmol/L should be advised to undergo a 75 g OGTT to detect T2DM earlier than otherwise

Clinical Differences and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Related Factors of Lean and Non-Lean Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

This study investigated differences in the clinical data and prevalence of lean and non-lean patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Data on patients with MetS who had results of ultrasonography or transient elastography were collected from a Thai university hospital database. Patients with exclusion criteria for NAFLD diagnosis were excluded. Patients’ clinical characteristic and the performances of three non-invasive scoring systems (fatty liver index [FLI], fibrosis-4 [FIB-4] index, and NAFLD fibrosis score [NFS]) were evaluated. The 743 subjects were classified into two groups: lean MetS (131 patients) and non-lean MetS (612 patients). The NAFLD prevalence in the non-lean group (62.6%) was higher than that in the lean group (31.3%). The age-adjusted odds ratio was 3.43. Advanced fibrosis was detected in 7.6% of lean patients and 10.8% of non-lean patients. FLI was not sensitive enough to detect NAFLD in the lean group at a high cutoff, but it performed acceptably at a low cutoff. FIB-4 performed better than NFS in determining advanced fibrosis. NAFLD was more common in non-lean than lean patients. Lean patients with MetS had a relatively higher risk of NAFLD than the general population. FLI and FIB-4 index performed acceptably in both groups

Cardiometabolic risk factors in Thai individuals with prediabetes treated in a high‐risk, prevention clinic: Unexpected relationship between high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and glycemia in men

Abstract Aims/Introduction Relationships between cardiometabolic risk and glycemia have rarely been studied in people under clinical evaluation and treatment for cardiometabolic risk and with prediabetes. We investigated relationships between glycemia and cardiometabolic risk factors in clinic participants with prediabetes. Materials and Methods This was a cross‐sectional analysis of data collected at a center in Thailand. Clinic attendees were at high risk of diabetes or cardiovascular disease, with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 39–<48 mmol/mol or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) 5.6–<7.0 mmol/L. The relationships between glycemia and cardiometabolic risk factors were explored. Results Of 357 participants, two or more insulin resistance‐related metabolic disturbances were present in 84%; 61% took a statin and 75% an antihypertensive agent. Independently of age, sex, adiposity, medication use, possible non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and sex–glycemia interaction, neither FPG nor HbA1c were associated with variation in any other cardiometabolic risk factors. High‐density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased with HbA1c in women (female–HbA1c interaction, P = 0.03) but, unexpectedly, increased with FPG in men (male–FPG interaction, P = 0.02). Conclusions Overall, in Thai people treated for high cardiometabolic risk and with prediabetes defined by FPG and/or HbA1c, neither FPG nor HbA1c were associated with other cardiometabolic risk factors. However, according to sex, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol showed the expected relationship with glycemia in women, but the reverse in men

DataSheet1_Fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels predict the risk of type 2 diabetes and diabetic retinopathy in a Thai high-risk population with prediabetes.docx

Introduction: The incidences of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Thai high-risk individuals with prediabetes have not been identified. This study compared diabetes and DR incidences among people at risk with different glycemic levels, using fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c).Materials and methods: A historical cohort study estimating risk of type 2 diabetes and DR was conducted among outpatients, using FPG and HbA1c measurements at recruitment and monitored for ≥5 years. High-risk participants (defined as having metabolic syndrome or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease) were categorized by glycemic level into 4 groups: 1) impaired fasting glucose (IFG)-/HbA1c- (FPG Results: We recruited 8,977 people at risk (metabolic syndrome, 89.9%; atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, 16.9%). The baseline cohort consisted of 1) IFG-/HbA1c- (n = 4,221; 47.0%); 2) IFG+/HbA1c- (n = 1,274; 14.2%); 3) IFG-/HbA1c+ (n = 2,151; 24.0%); and 4) IFG+/HbA1c+ (n = 1,331; 14.8%). Their 5-year T2DM incidences were 16.0%, 26.4%, 30.8%, and 48.5% (p Conclusion: The 5-year incidence of T2DM in Thai high-risk participants with prediabetes was very high. The incidences of diabetes and DR significantly increased with higher degrees of dysglycemia. High-risk people with FPG 110–125 mg/dl and HbA1c 6.0%–6.4% were more likely to develop T2DM and DR. Such individuals should receive priority lifestyle and pharmacological management.</p

Long-term multiple metabolic abnormalities among healthy and high-risk people following nonsevere COVID-19

Abstract Few studies have identified the metabolic consequences of the post-acute phase of nonsevere COVID-19. This prospective study examined metabolic outcomes and associated factors in nonsevere, RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19. The participants’ metabolic parameters, the prevalence of long-term multiple metabolic abnormalities (≥ 2 components), and factors influencing the prevalence were assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months post-onset. Six hundred individuals (mean age 45.5 ± 14.5 years, 61.7% female, 38% high-risk individuals) with nonsevere COVID-19 attended at least one follow-up visit. The prevalence of worsening metabolic abnormalities was 26.0% for BMI, 43.2% for glucose, 40.5% for LDL-c, 19.1% for liver, and 14.8% for C-reactive protein. Except for lipids, metabolic-component abnormalities were more prevalent in high-risk hosts than in healthy individuals. The prevalence of multiple metabolic abnormalities at the 6-month follow-up was 41.3% and significantly higher in high-risk than healthy hosts (49.2% vs 36.5%; P = 0.007). Factors independently associated with a lower risk of these abnormalities were being female, having dyslipidemia, and receiving at least 3 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. These findings suggest that multiple metabolic abnormalities are the long-term consequences of COVID-19. For both high-risk and healthy individuals with nonsevere COVID-19, healthcare providers should monitor metabolic profiles, encourage healthy behaviors, and ensure complete vaccination