Low serum adiponectin levels are predictive of advanced hepatic fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.

Background: Adiponectin, an adipocytokine-mediating insulin action, has recently been found to be involved in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to assess possible associations between serum adiponectin levels and factors of the metabolic syndrome or histologic parameters in biopsy-proven NAFLD.

Methods: Patients with persistently abnormal liver function tests satisfying inclusion criteria were subjected to liver biopsy.