Higher circulating levels of proneurotensin are associated with increased risk of incident NAFLD

Abstract Background Neurotensin (NT), an intestinal peptide able to promote fat absorption, is implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity. Increased levels of proneurotensin (pro‐NT), a stable NT precursor fragment, have been found in subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, whether higher pro‐NT levels are associated with an increased NAFLD risk independently of other metabolic risk factors is unsettled. Methods Ultrasound‐defined presence of NAFLD was assessed on 303 subjects stratified into tertiles according to fasting pro‐NT levels. The longitudinal association between pro‐NT levels and NAFLD was explored on the study participants without NAFLD at baseline reexamined after 5 years of follow‐up ( n = 124). Results Individuals with higher pro‐NT levels exhibited increased adiposity, a worse lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity as compared to the lowest tertile of pro‐NT. Prevalence of NAFLD was progressively increased in the intermediate and highest pro‐NT tertile as compared to the lowest tertile. In a logistic regression analysis adjusted for several confounders, individuals with higher pro‐NT levels displayed a raised risk of having NAFLD (OR = 3.43, 95%CI = 1.48–7.97, p = 0.004) than those in the lowest pro‐NT tertile. Within the study cohort without NAFLD at baseline, subjects with newly diagnosed NAFLD at follow‐up exhibited higher baseline pro‐NT levels than those without incident NAFLD. In a cox hazard regression analysis model adjusted for anthropometric and metabolic parameters collected at baseline and follow‐up visit, higher baseline pro‐NT levels were associated with an increased risk of incident NAFLD (HR = 1.52, 95%CI = 1.017–2.282, p = 0.04). Conclusion Higher pro‐NT levels are a predictor of NAFLD independent of other metabolic risk factors.