COPPER HEMOSTASIS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH LIPID PROFILE IN PATIENTS WITH NAFLD

Background and Aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is resulted from excessive fatty acid influx from adipose tissue, de novo hepatic lipogenesis as well as excessive dietary fat and carbohydrate intake and induces mitochondrial oxidative stress and cellular damage leading the development of NAFLD into cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Copper (Cu) – a main bio-metals required for the enzymes involved in physiological redox reactions. As Cu homeostasis could be considered a target point for counteracting the progression of NAFLD, this cross-sectional study was aimed to investigate the association between Cu and iron (Fe) status in patients with NAFLD.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 35 patients with NAFLD (confirmed by ultrasonography for liver echogenicity) aged 20-50 yrs were studied. Weight and height were measured and body mass index (BMI) was estimated. Indeed, fasting serum levels of Cu, ceruloplasmin, liver enzymes (ALT, AST) and lipid profile were assessed. Results: Obesity and hyperlipidemia were observed in 75.7% and 57.1% of the patients, respectively. Mean serum Cu, ceroloplasmin was 129.94±46.49 µg/dl, 0.38±0.08 g/L and none of the patients showed Cu deficiency based on serum Cu levels i.e. <70 µg/dl. Serum levels of Cu and ceruloplasmin decreased by increasing the severity of liver steatosis. Only serum levels of ceruloplasmin was correlated with serum triglyceride (r=0.524, p=0.001) and AST (r= -0.295, p=0.086) levels while no correlation was found for Fe biomarkers.Conclusion: Although our results showed serum ceroloplasmin level correlation with TG and AST, further studies are required to study the role of Cu hemostasis in the progression of NAFLD.