Serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase is a determinant of insulin resistance independently of adiposity in Pima Indian children.

Context: Elevated activities of serum enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), have been associated with obesity and insulin resistance (IR). ALT is an independent predictor of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in adult Pima Indians, and GGT predicts T2DM in other adult populations.

Objective: Our aim was to establish whether independent relationships exist between either adiposity or IR and hepatic enzymes in a group of Pima Indian children.