Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is one of the
adipocytokines. We evaluated whether serum levels of HGF are related to the
metabolic syndrome. A total of 1474 subjects of a general population free of liver, kidney, and
lung diseases received a health examination. We measured blood pressure, waist circumference, body mass index, fasting plasma
glucose,
lipid profiles, serum
insulin, liver
enzymes, and HGF concentrations. Uni- and multivariate analyses for determinant of HGF were performed. In univariate analysis, all of the components (waist circumference,
triglycerides,
high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting plasma
glucose) of the
metabolic syndrome and liver
enzymes were significantly related to HGF levels. By the use of multiple stepwise regression analysis, HGF levels were significantly related to waist circumference (P < 0.001),
high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P < 0.05, inversely), and liver
enzymes (P < 0.001). HGF levels were higher (P < 0.05) in proportion to the accumulation of the number of the component of the
metabolic syndrome. A significant association (P < 0.05) was shown between quartiles of HGF levels and the degree of abnormality of the component of the
metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, our results indicate that serum HGF levels are strongly associated with the
metabolic syndrome, independent of liver function.