A Case Control Study on Assessment of Serum Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase Levels in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Salem, Tamilnadu

Abstract

Background 
The growing incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by 
hepatic lipid deposition, can be attributed to alterations in lifestyle and the prominence of 
metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to determine the association between serum 
gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels and the occurrence of NAFLD.  
Materials and Methods  
The case-control study was conducted in the General Medicine Department of a teaching 
medical college in Salem, Tamilnadu over the course of one year, encompassing 100 
patients aged between 20 and 70 years. A comprehensive study was undertaken, involving 
50 NAFLD patients and 50 healthy controls with normal ultrasonographic results. The 
main areas of focus were the biochemical markers of liver disease and various demographic 
variables. The analysis of the data was carried out using IBM SPSS version 22.0 software, 
with tables being generated via Microsoft Excel. 
Results 
The results of Fisher's exact test showed that there were no statistically significant 
differences in the age (P value = 0.801) and gender distribution (P value = 0.424) of 
NAFLD patients and healthy controls. Several parameters exhibit significant differences 
when comparing the case group to the control group. Significant differences are observed 
in serum creatinine levels (p = 0.002), as well as in triglyceride levels, aspartate 
aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, GGT, low-density lipoprotein, and high
density lipoprotein (all with p values < 0.0001). According to the findings of the Kruskal
Wallis test, there were no statistically significant variations in GGT levels between the 
different grades of fatty liver (P value = 0.259). 
Conclusion 
The study findings show that parameters including AST, ALT, GGT, TG, LDL, and HDL 
might be significant in discerning between control and case groups of NAFLD patients. 
Serum GGT levels lack the ability to distinguish between the varying degrees of NAFLD 
severity.