Non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis and its relation to increased plasma biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in non-diabetic men. Role of visceral adipose tissue

Aims To compare plasma biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in individuals with and without non‐alcoholic hepatic steatosis (HS), and to evaluate whether such differences were mediated by the adverse metabolic pattern, typically found in these subjects. Methods HS (by ultrasound and computed tomography), visceral fat (by computed tomography), insulin resistance (by homeostasis model assessment—HOMA), plasma biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction (hs‐C reactive protein, fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 activity) were measured in 100 non‐smoking, healthy, male volunteers. Results Plasma hs‐CRP, fibrinogen, v‐WF and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) activity levels were markedly higher (P