Correlation between Serum Uric Acid and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the important health issueswith high prevalence worldwide. However, there is no approved medication for that. As one of theindicators of metabolic syndrome, uric acid might play a role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Inthis study, we aimed to determine the correlation between serum uric acid level, liver enzymes, andultrasonographic grading of NAFLD. Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients aged 18-65 with NAFLD. Patients with othermetabolic disorders and a history of using alcohol or medications that alter uric acid levels wereexcluded. The patients’ serum uric acid, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST) levels, and ultrasonographic grading of NAFLD at baseline, third month, and sixth monthwere collected. Results: Of the 3000 patients, 500 patients met the eligibility criteria. The results showed that thereis a significant positive relationship between ALT and serum uric acid level at the first (P= 0.01),third (P=0.01), and sixth month (P=0.01). Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlationbetween AST and serum uric acid level at the sixth month (P= 0.001). The comparison of 249 patients’ultrasonographic grading showed no significant correlation with serum uric acid levels. Conclusion: To conclude, the serum uric acid level significantly correlates with ALT and AST over sixmonths but not with the ultrasonographic grading. Further studies are required to determine the role ofuric acid-lowering agents in the treatment of NAFLD.