Low serum CTRP3 levels are associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) commonly occurs in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). C1q/TNF-related protein-3 (CTRP3) levels are decreased in type 2 diabetic patients. However, to date, it is unknown whether low CTRP3 level are correlated with the incidence of NAFLD. The aim of this study was to observe this association in Chinese patients with T2DM. Overall, 175 newly diagnosed T2DM were recruited in this study. The subjects were divided into NAFLD group (n = 93) and control group (n = 82). Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, and several biochemical parameters were measured. The body composition was assessed with the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method. Insulin level was evaluated by radioimmunoassay. Levels of serum CTRP3 and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our findings demonstrated that type 2 diabetic patients with NAFLD had lower levels of serum CTRP3 than did those without NAFLD (P = .002). Serum CTRP3 level was negatively correlated with body mass index (r = −0.271, P = .001), visceral fat area (r = −0.285, P < .001), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (r = −0.270, P < .001), triglycerides (r = −0.267, P < .001), CRP (r = −0.222, P = .010), IL-6 (r = −0.212, P = .008), and HOMA-IR indices (r = −0.334, P < .001). When compared with the highest CTRP3 tertile, the odds ratio of the middle tertile for NAFLD incidence was 4.54 (95% CI, 1.53-13.47) and 5.80 (95% CI, 1.60-21.02) for the lowest tertile after adjustment for confounding factors. In summary, low serum CTRP3 is a strong predictor for the prevalence of NAFLD in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed T2DM.