Abstract

Background: Serum uric acid levels are significantly associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) is the key enzyme that catalyzes the formation of uric acid. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum XOR activity and NAFLD.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, serum XOR activity was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 129 patients with NAFLD and 71 controls.
Results: Serum XOR activity was markedly higher in patients with NAFLD than in the controls (p < 0.001). Serum XOR activity positively correlated with markers of liver injury and indices of oxidative stress. Moreover, patients with high XOR activity had a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome.
Conclusions: These data show that serum XOR activity is significantly associated with NAFLD.

DOI: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2013.130516