OBJECTIVETo investigate the prospective association of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) with NAFLD development in a 5-year prospective study involving a population-based cohort comprising 352 Chinese subjects.

METHODSThe clinical data of subjects were recorded, serum FGF-21 levels at baseline and follow-up were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,whether FGF-21 was independent predictor of NAFLD development were identified using logistic regressions. Chi-square test, non-parametric test and logistic regression analysis were used in statistical analyses.

RESULTS(1) Serum FGF-21 levels of NAFLD group was significantly higher than that of non-NAFLD group (318.34(169.64,520.77)pg/ml vs 197.22 (121.57, 318.76) pg/ml, Probability value less than 0.05). (2)At follow-up,significant increase of FGF-21 level was observed in those subjects who developed NAFLD (399.4 (253.9,754.2) pg/ml vs 318.34(169.64, 520.77)pg/ml, Probability value less than 0.05), but in non-NAFLD group, there was no significant difference of FGF-21 level between baseline and follow-up. (3) BMI, TC, HOMA-IR and FGF-21 were independent predictors of NAFLD through logistic regressions.

CONCLUSIONHigh FGF-21 levels was independent predictor of NAFLD, it may be useful for early diagnosis and intervention of NAFLD.