Relationship between the Lipid Accumulation Product Index and Alanine Aminotransferase in Korean Adult Men

The LAP (lipid accumulation product) index is an indicator of excessive fat accumulation in combination with the fasting triglyceride concentration and waist circumference. This study examined the relationship between the LAP index and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) level and the effect of the LAP index on the ALT level. Cross-sectional studies were conducted on healthy adult males without a history of liver disease. From January 2015 to June 2017, 13,854 adults between 20 and 70 years of age, who underwent health screening at a general hospital in Gyeonggi-do, were enrolled in this study. The LAP index was calculated as [waist circumference (cm) − 65]×[triglyceride (mmol/L)] for males. Serum ALT abnormalities were set at 40 IU/L or more in males. All subjects underwent measurements of the anthropometric indicators and physiological examinations. A significant increase in ALT with increasing LAP quintiles was observed (p ＜ 0.001). The LAP index correlated with ALT (r=0.238, p ＜ 0.001). Insulin (r=0.449, p ＜ 0.001) and HDL-cholesterol (r= − 0.369, p ＜ 0.001) were strongly correlated with LAP. In addition, the LAP index is a factor affecting the ALT level (p ＜ 0.001). As the LAP index increased, the risk of an elevated ALT was higher (p ＜ 0.001). In conclusion, the LAP index was a predictor of an ALT elevation in Korean men.