Association between liver enzymes and metabolic syndrome in Canadian adults: results from the Canadian health measures survey - cycles 3 &4.

Background: The relationship between liver enzymes and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in different populations, including Canadians, is not consistent and well understood. We used the Canadian Health Measures Survey data (Cycles 3 and 4) to examine the cross-sectional relationships between select liver biomarkers and MetS in the adult Canadian population. The biomarkers selected were gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP).

Methods: Fasting blood samples (FBS) were collected from adults above the age of 20 years for Cycle 3 and Cycle 4 ( = 3003). MetS was diagnosed if the subjects had three or more risk determinants according to the Joint Interim Statement criteria. Primary risk factors included quartile cut-offs for each of the biomarkers ALKP, AST, GGT for males and females separately. A multivariable logistic regression technique based on a maximum likelihood approach was used to evaluate the association between quartiles of ALKP, AST, and GGT, other individual and contextual factors, and the prevalence of MetS.

Results: MetS was prevalent in 32.3% of subjects. BMI was an effect modifier in the relationship between GGT and MetS prevalence, while sex was an effect modifier in the relationship between ALKP and MetS prevalence; and age was an effect modifier in the relationship between AST and MetS prevalence.

Conclusions: Since the mechanisms to underpin the associations between the liver enzymes activity and MetS are unknown, further epidemiologic investigations using longitudinal designs are necessary to understand these associations.