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Objective. To investigate the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the association of serum uric acid level with NAFLD in Uygur people, Xinjiang.Methods. A total of 2241 Uyghur persons (1214 males and 1027 females) were interviewed for physical checkups from 2011 to 2012. The clinical data of questionnaire survey, body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipid, and serum uric acid level were collected for analysis.Results. The prevalence rates of NAFLD determined by abdominal ultrasound examination and hyperuricemia were 43.9% and 8.4%, respectively. The persons with NAFLD had significantly higher serum uric acid levels than those without NAFLD (320 ± 88 versus 254 ± 80 μmol/L;P<0.001). The prevalence rate of NAFLD was significantly higher in subjects with hyperuricemia than that in those without hyperuricemia (78.19% versus 40.83%;P<0.001), and the prevalence rate increased with progressively higher serum uric acid levels (P<0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that hyperuricemia was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD (odds ratio (OR): 2.628, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.608–4.294, andP<0.001).Conclusion.Serum uric acid level was significantly associated with NAFLD, and the prevalence rate of NAFLD increased with progressively higher serum uric acid levels.

Objective Multiple common gene variants play a role in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) susceptibility. Our goal was to investigate the association between variants polymorphisms and NAFLD in the Uygur and Han from Northwestern China. Methods Eight tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) previously reported to be associated with NAFLD were characterized in 396 NAFLD individuals and 399 controls. The association of variants with NAFLD in the Uygur and Han was assessed using the chi-squared (χ2) test in different gene models. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was performed to obtain the odds ratios (ORs) for risk of NAFLD and their 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusted for confounding factors. Finally, stratified analysis was used to explore the potential gene-environment interactions on the risk of NAFLD. Results In a recessive model, we found a potential association between rs738409 and NAFLD in both ethnic groups: Chinese Han (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.03–3.27, p = 0.036), Uygur (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.23–4.09, p = 0.006). The multiple logistic regression revealed that PNPLA3 rs738409 GG genotype may increase the risk of NAFLD by adjusting some confounding factors: Han (OR = 5.22, 95% CI: 1.94–14.04, p = 0.001), Uygur (OR = 4.29, 95% CI: 1.60–11.48, p = 0.004). Stratified analysis found that rs738409 polymorphism appeared to have interaction with sex, smoking status in Uygur, and have interaction with sex, age, BMI stage, lifestyle in Han. Conclusion Our data suggest the PNPLA3 I148M polymorphism influences susceptibility to NAFLD in the Han and Uygur of Northwestern China.