Lipid Parameters and Their Association With Liver Function Test Variables in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Aim To assess the prevalence of elevated liver enzymes and their correlation with lipid profile abnormalities in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Method A total of 130 individuals with diabetes were enrolled in the study, and blood serum samples were collected to evaluate liver function tests and lipid profiles. The association between liver enzyme levels and T2DM was analyzed using logistic regression. Results Altered liver enzymes were observed in 40 cases (30.77%), while lipid abnormalities were noted in 92 cases (70.76%) in T2DM cases. Among liver function parameters, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) exhibited the greatest degree of variation. AST showed significant correlations with total cholesterol (r = 0.513), triglycerides (r = 0.530), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (r = 0.518), diabetes duration (r = 0.198), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (r = -0.288). Similarly, ALT showed significant correlations with all lipid profile parameters. Logistic regression analysis revealed that abnormal levels of total cholesterol (OR: 1.452, p < 0.0001; 95% CI: 1.29-1.62), LDL (OR: 1.59, p < 0.0001; 95% CI: 0.41-0.69), and triglycerides (OR: 1.798, p < 0.0001; 95% CI: 1.699-2.12) were independently associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that ALT had an AUROC of 0.86 in predicting non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among diabetic patients. There was a strong correlation between abnormal liver enzymes, and dyslipidemia, with odds ratio analysis indicating an increased risk of liver disorders in individuals with poor diabetic control. Liver function abnormalities frequently coexist with altered lipid profiles in patients with T2DM. Conclusion Consistent monitoring of lipid profile levels in patients with T2DM may aid in preventing cardiovascular complications. Follow-up using laboratory parameters such as Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) scores and elastography is recommended to monitor patients with fatty liver disease, as these variables can detect early hepatic changes, advanced fibrosis, and other liver abnormalities. Regular screening for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) may be warranted in diabetic patients with elevated liver enzymes, potentially facilitating early intervention and reducing the risk of cirrhosis and its related complications.