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An Australian study has found that a liver disease, caused by overweight and obesity rather than alcohol, increases the risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome. An 11 year follow-up study of patients from the renowned Busselton Health Survey found people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were three times more likely to develop diabetes than people without NAFLD.

Presenting the findings at Australian Gastroenterology Week, lead researcher Dr Leon Adams, School of Medicine and Pharmacology at The University of Western Australia said the study is significant because approximately 20 per cent of the Australian population have NAFLD.

“The study establishes a link between the liver and diabetes,” he added. “It also suggests that NAFLD is a step in the pathway towards the development of diabetes when we have previously thought the reverse to be true – that diabetes leads to the development of NAFLD.”

The study also provides yet another reason for maintaining a healthy weight as NAFLD is an accumulation of fat in the liver that is caused by overweight and obesity.

“The concern about NAFLD is that it can lead to inflammation and fibrosis of the liver and therefore cirrhosis-related problems. When people hear of cirrhosis they tend to think of alcohol but NAFLD occurs when the liver is affected by diet, not alcohol,” explained Dr Adams.

The study involved 358 adult Busselton residents originally assessed in 1994/5. Of these, 109 were diagnosed with NAFLD while 249 did not have NAFLD. All the subjects were reassessed in 2005. “We found that people with NAFLD were more likely to be overweight and have insulin resistance when they were diagnosed with NAFLD,” said Dr Adams.

“This combination of insulin resistance and obesity or excess weight is driving the increase of NAFLD and subsequent development of diabetes. It is concerning because diabetes is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke as well as liver and kidney failure,” he added.

The study also found subjects were 50 per cent more likely to develop the metabolic syndrome - a cluster of disorders including high blood pressure, overweight, elevated glucose levels and high lipids. The metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Dr Leon Adams is available for interview by contacting Maria Padua or Mardi Stewart.

Media references

Maria Padua 0419 200 935

Mardi Stewart 0402 231 142

Simone Hewett / Sally-Ann Jones 61 8 6488 7977
(UWA Public Affairs) 0420 790 097 / 0420 790 098