Is abnormal liver function correlated with food sensitisation in adults? US NHANES, 2005-2006

Background: Associations between liver function and serum IgE levels have recently been observed in children. However, the relationship in adults is unclear. Therefore, it was aimed to study associations of liver function and serum total and food-specific IgE concentrations in a national and population-based study. Method: Data were retrieved from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2005-2006 including demographics, liver status tests, biomarkers, lifestyle factors, and serum total and food-specific IgE concentrations. Participants aged 20 and above were included. Analyses included t-test, chi-square test, and survey-weighted regression modelling. Results: After adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, vitamin D, waist circumference, family poverty income ratio, total cholesterol, ever asthma, total protein, and survey weighting, abnormal gamma glutamyl transpeptidase was significantly associated with food sensitisation (peanut: OR 2.17, 95%CI 1.60-2.94, P < 0.001; egg: OR 2.55, 95%CI 1.32-4.90, P = 0.008; milk: OR 2.59, 95%CI 1.56-4.31, P = 0.001; shrimp: OR 1.81, 95%CI 1.29-2.55, P = 0.002). Moreover, both abnormal albumin and alanine transaminase were associated with egg sensitisation (OR 1.96, 95%CI 1.12-3.43, P = 0.022 and OR 2.06, 95%CI 1.04-4.09, P = 0.040, respectively). Conclusion: Abnormal liver status tests were correlated with serum food-specific IgE concentrations in adults. Future research with longitudinal design or in clinical settings may be warranted confirming or refuting the observations made in the present epidemiological study.