BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest a role of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha 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), gamma-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.

Prolonged n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation ameliorates hepatic steatosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a pilot study / M. CAPANNI; F. CALELLA; MR. BIAGINI; S. GENISE; L. RAIMONDI; G. BEDOGNI; G. SVEGLIATI-BARONI; F. SOFI; S. MILANI; R. ABBATE; C. SURRENTI; A. CASINI. - In: ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS. - ISSN 0269-2813. - STAMPA. - 23:(2006), pp. 1143-1151. [10.1111/j.1365-2036.2006.02885.x]

Prolonged n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation ameliorates hepatic steatosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a pilot study

BIAGINI, MARIA ROSA;RAIMONDI, LAURA;SOFI, FRANCESCO;MILANI, STEFANO;ABBATE, ROSANNA;SURRENTI, CALOGERO;CASINI, ALESSANDRO
2006

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest a role of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha 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), gamma-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.
2006
23
1143
1151
M. CAPANNI; F. CALELLA; MR. BIAGINI; S. GENISE; L. RAIMONDI; G. BEDOGNI; G. SVEGLIATI-BARONI; F. SOFI; S. MILANI; R. ABBATE; C. SURRENTI; A. CASINI...espandi
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/256112
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