Nutritional assessment and hepatic fatty acid composition in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

Low hepatic n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) may contribute to steatosis and steatohepatitis and can be affected by diet and oxidative stress.

METHODS:

Seventy-three patients referred for elevated liver enzymes and suspected NAFLD were assessed. Nutritional assessment, hepatic FA composition and oxidative stress were compared between these groups: simple steatosis (SS, n=18), steatohepatitis (NASH, n=38) and minimal findings on liver biopsy (MF, n=17).

RESULTS:

Patients with NASH had higher: BMI, central obesity, body fat, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and lower physical activity compared to the other groups. They also had relatively lower hepatic n-3 and n-6 PUFA, a decrease in the ratio of metabolites to essential FA precursors for both n-6 and n-3 FA (eicosapentaenoic+docosahexaenoic/linolenic and arachidonic/linoleic acid ratios) and higher liver lipid peroxides with lower antioxidant power, when compared to MF. Overall, there was no significant difference between SS and NASH in FA composition. Self-reported dietary intake and red blood cell FA composition were similar among the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

NASH patients have more metabolic abnormalities. This is associated with higher oxidative stress and lower n-3 and n-6 PUFA in the liver in the absence of any differences in dietary FA composition.

• Authors: Johane P Allard, Elaheh Aghdassi, Saira Mohammed, Maitreyi Raman, Ghazal Avand, Bianca M Arendt, Pegah Jalali, Thileep Kandasamy, Nita Prayitno, Morris Sherman, Maha Guindi, David W L Ma, Jenny E Heathcote
• Journal: Journal of hepatology (J Hepatol) Vol. 48 Issue 2 Pg. 300-7 (Feb 2008) ISSN: 0168-8278 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 18086506 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Dietary Fats
• Fatty Acids

Topics

• Adult
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Dietary Fats (administration & dosage)
• Fatty Acids (analysis)
• Fatty Liver (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Lipid Peroxidation
• Liver (chemistry)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nutrition Assessment