Korean J Obes.  2013 Mar;22(1):21-29.

The Association between Serum Gamma-glutamyltransferase within Normal Range and Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases: Based on the Framingham Risk Score

• Ko HJ
• Choi CS
• Youn CH
• Lee DH
• Lee SG

Abstract

BACKGROUND
We investigated the association between serum GGT level with risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and the Framingham risk score (FRS).
METHODS
A Total of 712 subjects (men 160, women 552) were enrolled, excluding 296 subjects either having any of hepatic diseases, taking medications that could affect liver function, having abnormal liver function, or drinking alcohol excessively. We classified the subjects into terciles according to the serum GGT levels. We analyzed the differences and trends of clinical characteristics between the three groups, and the correlation between serum GGT level and FRS.
RESULTS
As the serum GGT level increased, there was an increases in blood pressure, body mass index, total cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting glucose, and FRS in women, whereas only triglyceride and FRS increased in men (P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis was performed after adjusting for BMI and waist circumferences with FRS as the dependent variable. The results showed positive association between GGT and FRS in both men and women, which were statistically significant (beta = 0.632, P = 0.011 in men; beta = 0.769, P = 0.004 in women).
CONCLUSION
There was a positive association between serum GGT level within normal range and Framingham risk scores. Serum GGT level may be considered as a useful biomarker to estimate the risks of cardiovascular diseases.

Keyword

Cardiovascular diseases; Framingham risk score; Gamma-glutamyltransferase; GGT; Risk factors

MeSH Terms

Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cholesterol
Drinking
Fasting
Female
gamma-Glutamyltransferase
Glucose
Humans
Liver
Male
Reference Values
Risk Factors
Waist Circumference
Cholesterol
Glucose
gamma-Glutamyltransferase