A new study published in the journal Endocrine has suggested that albumin binding function represents a novel biomarker for early liver damage and disease progression in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Albumin binding function is a known early indicator of liver damage in hepatitis and liver cirrhosis patients. Its role in NAFLD is largely unknown.

Therefore, Sun et al conducted an age/sex-matched, case-control study wherein albumin-binding capacity (ABiC) and albumin metal ion binding ability, assessed by ischemia modified albumin (IMA), were quantified. A correlation analysis was done to determine the association of albumin binding function with liver function enzymes and noninvasive liver fibrosis markers.

The study included 80 NAFLD patients and 41 healthy controls. Albumin binding function was found to be significantly lower in NAFLD patients with ABiC 196.00%; IMA transformed (IMAT) 0.461; and IMAT/albumin 0.947 × 10^-2, compared to controls (ABiC: 211.00%; IMAT: 0.575; and IMAT/albumin: 1.206 × 10^-2).

Furthermore, albumin binding function was significantly different among healthy participants and different severity groups of NAFLD. Albumin binding function also had a positive correlation with BMI and FIB-4 index.

According to the ROC curve, albumin binding function, in association with BMI and triglyceride, could potentially predict the presence of NAFLD.

Source: Sun L, Wang Q, Liu M, et al. Albumin binding function is a novel biomarker for early liver damage and disease progression in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Endocrine. 2020 May 12.