Lipids & metabolic liver disease
Liver fat accumulation within the ‘normal range’ is associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome traits
Authors' conclusion
Previously defined normal levels of liver fat are not associated with optimal metabolic health (no MetS traits). Small increments in liver fat, even within a pre-defined normal range, are associated with a progressive increase in the number of MetS traits.
Study context
- Population
- Participants (99.7 % white European) assessed for cardiometabolic health with individual metabolic syndrome (MetS) traits, alcohol consumption and steatotic liver disease (SLD) (MRI-PDFF or 1H-MRS liver fat ≥5.56 %)
- Participants
- 597 participants
- Exposure
- Liver fat by number of MetS traits
- No MetS traitsn = 30reference
- 3 MetS traitsn = 117
- 5 MetS traitsn = 108
- Outcome
- Liver fat thresholds associated with metabolic health and number of MetS traits
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Liver fat
P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
SLD and each MetS trait (increased blood pressure, central obesity, dysglycaemia, high TG, low HDL-C)
- SLD associated with each MetS trait
- all p < 0.001
Original publication
Liver fat accumulation within the ‘normal range’ is associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome traits. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. Published 10 November 2025. doi:10.
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