TY - JOUR
T1 - Prolonged n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation ameliorates hepatic steatosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
T2 - A pilot study
AU - Capanni, M.
AU - Calella, F.
AU - Biagini, M. R.
AU - Genise, S.
AU - Raimondi, L.
AU - Bedogni, G.
AU - Svegliati-Baroni, G.
AU - Sofi, F.
AU - Milani, S.
AU - Abbate, R.
AU - Surrenti, C.
AU - Casini, A.
PY - 2006/4
Y1 - 2006/4
N2 - Background: Recent studies suggest a role of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α ligands in improving non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rodents. However, data in humans are still lacking. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of prolonged PUFA supplementation in patients with NAFLD. Methods: Fifty-six patients with NAFLD were enrolled. Among the overall eligible patients, 42 assumed n-3 PUFA 1-g capsule daily for 12 months, whereas 14 refused the treatment and were analysed as controls. All patients underwent haematochemical and ultrasound follow-up. Results: Polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation significantly decreased serum aspartate transaminase (P = 0.003), alanine transaminase (P = 0.002), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (P = 0.03), triglycerides (P = 0.02) and fasting glucose (P = 0.02) in comparison with controls. Circulating arachidonate and n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio was reduced (P = 0.0002, and P = 0.0001 respectively) in treated patients. Moreover, ultrasonography demonstrated improvement of liver echotexture after PUFA (P = 0.0001), and increase of Doppler perfusion index (P = 0.001), whereas no significant changes occurred in controls. Conclusions: Supplementation with n-3 PUFA improves biochemical, ultrasonographic and haemodynamic features of liver steatosis. Our study supports the efficacy of n-3 PUFA as a new therapeutic approach in the treatment of NAFLD.
AB - Background: Recent studies suggest a role of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α ligands in improving non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rodents. However, data in humans are still lacking. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of prolonged PUFA supplementation in patients with NAFLD. Methods: Fifty-six patients with NAFLD were enrolled. Among the overall eligible patients, 42 assumed n-3 PUFA 1-g capsule daily for 12 months, whereas 14 refused the treatment and were analysed as controls. All patients underwent haematochemical and ultrasound follow-up. Results: Polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation significantly decreased serum aspartate transaminase (P = 0.003), alanine transaminase (P = 0.002), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (P = 0.03), triglycerides (P = 0.02) and fasting glucose (P = 0.02) in comparison with controls. Circulating arachidonate and n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio was reduced (P = 0.0002, and P = 0.0001 respectively) in treated patients. Moreover, ultrasonography demonstrated improvement of liver echotexture after PUFA (P = 0.0001), and increase of Doppler perfusion index (P = 0.001), whereas no significant changes occurred in controls. Conclusions: Supplementation with n-3 PUFA improves biochemical, ultrasonographic and haemodynamic features of liver steatosis. Our study supports the efficacy of n-3 PUFA as a new therapeutic approach in the treatment of NAFLD.
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2006.02885.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2006.02885.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 16611275
AN - SCOPUS:33646882162
VL - 23
SP - 1143
EP - 1151
JO - Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
JF - Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
SN - 0269-2813
IS - 8
ER -