Metabolic and hepatic biomarkers associated with MASLD in the Chinese population

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has become the most prevalent chronic liver disease globally, imposing significant economic burdens. In this study, we analyzed serum indicators-including ALT, AST, De-Ritis ratio, fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profiles, and blood pressure-among 162,699 Chinese individuals from Ping An Healthcare Diagnostics Center, stratified by gender, age, and weight. Comparative analysis revealed significant differences in these biomarkers between MASLD and Normal groups, enabling the identification of markers associated with MASLD subhealth. The overall MASLD prevalence was 36.57% (23.96% in men and 12.61% in women). Notable discrepancies were observed for ALT, De-Ritis ratio, triglycerides, and HDL-C across all groups, with AST, FBG, blood pressure, TC, and LDL-C differing significantly in most groups. Our findings highlight the association of some critical metabolic and hepatic biomarkers with MASLD, underscoring the imperative need for enhanced monitoring of metabolic health indicators. This approach may facilitate the identification of individuals at risk for MASLD in the Chinese population, paving the way for timely interventions.