Estimation Of Aminotransferase Levels In Normal Individuals In Relation To Body Mass Index, Age And Sex - A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and objectives BMI has a strong influence over aminotransferases levels. Both ALT and ALT, the two variables show the greatest contributions to the total BMI variance. The present study was aimed to examine variation in the aminotransferases levels in relation to body mass index, age and sex. Methodology This one year cross sectional study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belgaum on a total of 100 healthy individuals attending the blood bank/ executive health check up. Results In this study, 55% of individuals were males and 45% were females with male to female ratio of 1.2:1. The 31 to 40 and 41 to 50 years age group was comprised of 34% each and the mean age of the study population was 34.81 ± 8.54 years. Body mass index of < 18.5 and 18.5 to 24.9 Kg/m2 was noted in 36% of the individuals each. The mean BMI of the study population was 22.69 ± 4.03 Kg/m2. The mean ALT and AST levels in males were 25.69 ± 9.56 and 27.00 ± 10.00 U/L compared to 21.00 ± 8.75 and 21.38 ± 9.08 U/L in females (p <0.050). It was observed that, the mean ALT levels in participants with BMI <18.5 Kg/m2 were significantly low (13.75 ± 3.16 U/L) compared those with BMI between 18.5 to 24.99 Kg/m2 (24.44 ± 3.90 U/L) and with > 25 Kg/m2 (35.11 ± 5.22 U/L) (p<0.001). Also, AST levels were also significantly low (14.00 ± 3.50 U/L) in participants with BMI < 18.5 Kg/m2 compared those with BMI between 18.5 to 24.99 Kg/m2 (25.14 ± 4.04 U/L) and > 25 Kg/m2 (37.07 ± 3.90 U/L) (p<0.001). Conclusion and interpretation Overall, the present study showed that, mean ALT and AST levels significantly varied with gender and body mass index but, no significant difference was observed among different age groups. The mean AST levels significantly varied in individuals with different grades of BMI according to age whereas the same was not true with ALT levels.