Metabolism: clinical and experimental
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The metabolic syndrome is known to sometimes exist in the presence of normal aminotransferase levels. The purpose of this study was to determine the lowest sex-specific level of alanine aminotransferase associated with the metabolic syndrome in a nationwide, representative Korean population. We analyzed data from adults 20 years and older (n = 3405) assessed in the Third Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005). ⋯ In men, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of the metabolic syndrome was 2.71 (1.31-5.63) for alanine aminotransferase group 4 (> or =27 IU/L). In women, odds ratios were 1.69 (1.02-2.80) and 2.06 (1.23-3.43) for alanine aminotransferase groups 3 (15 < or = alanine aminotransferase < 19 IU/L) and 4 (> or =19 IU/L), respectively. High-normal alanine aminotransferase levels (> or =27 IU/L in men, > or =15 IU/L in women) were strongly associated with the metabolic syndrome in Korean adults.