MON-597 Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Determined by MRI and Its Association with Metabolic Variables in Non-Diabetic Subjects

Abstract Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease determined by MRI and its association with metabolic variables in non-diabetic subjects Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined as the presence of hepatic steatosis (liver fat accumulation higher than 5% of liver weight) in the absence of other causes. Liver biopsy is recognized as a gold standard for diagnosis, but it is limited by the risks of serious complications. Besides that, the increasing prevalence of NASH led to improved imaging methods, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), that enable quantitative assessment of steatosis by quantifying the hepatic fat fraction (HFF), even with steatosis levels as low as 5.56%. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic profile of patients without T2DM according to hepatic steatosis measured by MRI. Methods: This was cross-sectional study conducted in an Endocrinology Unity in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study complied with the WMA Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethical Committee on Human Subject Research from the Faculty Patos de Minas. We recruited non-diabetic subjects aged above 20 years with hepatic steatosis detected by liver sonography. Exclusion criteria were alcohol consumption of more than 20 grams/day for female and 30 grams/day for male, ferritin serum levels above 1000 mg/dL, positive serology for hepatitis B or C and intake of medications known to produce hepatic steatosis. Included subjects underwent HFF quantification by MRI, and the degree of liver fatty infiltration was estimated by using chemical shift imaging. The following biochemical variables were assessed: fasting glucose and HbA1c, HOMA-IR, lipids, AST, ALT and GGT. Analysis: we grouped individuals according to the quartile of HFF and compared clinical and biochemical variables between the groups. Results: A total of 30 subjects (18 male and 12 females) were included. All subjects were overweight (10% overweight and 90% obese); 7 (23.3%) had 3 criteria and 16 (53.3%) had two criteria for MS. The only variable assessed herein that was different between males and females was HDL-c (40.5 vs 50.5 mg/dL, respectively, p=0.0255). ALT serum levels were significantly higher in subjects in the fourth quartile of HFF, when compared to those in the third quartile (76 vs 47 UI/L, respectively, p=0.037). The other clinical of biochemical variables assessed did not differ between the quartiles of HFF. Conclusion: our preliminary findings indicate that the biochemical variables related to metabolic homeostasis are poor predictors of the degree of liver fat in overweight non-diabetic subjects. Although screening for NAFLD is still a matter of debate, our results suggest that future discussions about this should take into account that excess body weight per se, independently from biochemical abnormalities, should be considered in the recommendations for screening non-diabetic subjects.

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Bile acids serum levels in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Kazan medical journal ◽

10.17750/kmj2015-354 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 96 (3) ◽

pp. 354-358 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Z Sh Minnullina ◽

S V Kiyashko ◽

O V Ryzhkova ◽

R G Sayfutdinov

Keyword(s):

Liver Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Bile Acids ◽

Hepatic Steatosis ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Aim. To estimate the blood levels of primary, secondary, tertiary and unconjugated bile acids in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Methods. The study included 74 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (males - 30, females - 44) and 51 healthy individuals (males - 14, females - 37). All patients underwent anthropometry and complete clinical, biochemical and instrumental examination (measuring the subcutaneous fat layer). 64 patients had hepatic steatosis, 10 - steatohepatitis. Serum levels of bile acids (primary: cholic, chenodeoxycholic; secondary: lithocholic, deoxycholic and tertiary: ursodeoxycholic) were measured by gas-liquid chromatography on «Chromos GC-1000» (Russia) scanner.Results. Unconjugated primary, secondary and tertiary bile acids were detected in the blood of healthy individuals and patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In healthy individuals, there were no gender differences found in the bile acids levels. Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease had higher level of bile acids compared to healthy controls. There was a significant difference in the concentrations of secondary and tertiary bile acids in patients with hepatic steatosis and steatohepatitis.Conclusion. Blood bile acids levels were significantly higher in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease than in healthy individuals. At steatohepatitis, females had higher levels of cholic, chenodeoxycholic and deoxycholic acids and lower levels of lithocholic and ursodeoxycholic acids compared to males. Significant difference in patients with hepatic steatosis and steatohepatitis was revealed only in levels of secondary and tertiary bile acids.

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Bilirubin Nanoparticles Reduce Diet-Induced Hepatic Steatosis, Improve Fat Utilization, and Increase Plasma β-Hydroxybutyrate

Frontiers in Pharmacology ◽

10.3389/fphar.2020.594574 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Terry D. Hinds ◽

Justin F. Creeden ◽

Darren M. Gordon ◽

Donald F. Stec ◽

Matthew C. Donald ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liver Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Hepatic Steatosis ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Liver Fat ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Fat Accumulation ◽

Fat Utilization ◽

Hepatic Fat ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

The inverse relationship of plasma bilirubin levels with liver fat accumulation has prompted the possibility of bilirubin as a therapeutic for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Here, we used diet-induced obese mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease treated with pegylated bilirubin (bilirubin nanoparticles) or vehicle control to determine the impact on hepatic lipid accumulation. The bilirubin nanoparticles significantly reduced hepatic fat, triglyceride accumulation, de novo lipogenesis, and serum levels of liver dysfunction marker aspartate transaminase and ApoB100 containing very-low-density lipoprotein. The bilirubin nanoparticles improved liver function and activated the hepatic β-oxidation pathway by increasing PPARα and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1. The bilirubin nanoparticles also significantly elevated plasma levels of the ketone β-hydroxybutyrate and lowered liver fat accumulation. This study demonstrates that bilirubin nanoparticles induce hepatic fat utilization, raise plasma ketones, and reduce hepatic steatosis, opening new therapeutic avenues for NAFLD.

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The Importance of the Fatty Acid Transporter L-Carnitine in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12082178 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 2178 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dragana Savic ◽

Leanne Hodson ◽

Stefan Neubauer ◽

Michael Pavlides

Keyword(s):

Liver Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Liver Enzymes ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Carnitine Deficiency ◽

Liver Fat ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Liver Health ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

L-carnitine transports fatty acids into the mitochondria for oxidation and also buffers excess acetyl-CoA away from the mitochondria. Thus, L-carnitine may play a key role in maintaining liver function, by its effect on lipid metabolism. The importance of L-carnitine in liver health is supported by the observation that patients with primary carnitine deficiency (PCD) can present with fatty liver disease, which could be due to low levels of intrahepatic and serum levels of L-carnitine. Furthermore, studies suggest that supplementation with L-carnitine may reduce liver fat and the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). L-carnitine has also been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and elevate pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) flux. Studies that show reduced intrahepatic fat and reduced liver enzymes after L-carnitine supplementation suggest that L-carnitine might be a promising supplement to improve or delay the progression of NAFLD.

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Prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with chronic kidney disease: a case-control study

Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation ◽

10.1093/ndt/gfab266 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Therese Adrian ◽

Ida M H Sørensen ◽

Filip K Knop ◽

Susanne Bro ◽

Ellen L F Ballegaard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Kidney Disease ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Hepatic Steatosis ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Liver Fat ◽

Liver Fat Content ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

ABSTRACT Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease and represents a wide spectrum ranging from mild steatosis over non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with and without fibrosis to overt cirrhosis. Patients with NAFLD have a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD). So far, there is scarce evidence of the prevalence of NAFLD among patients with CKD. We investigated the prevalence of moderate-to-severe hepatic steatosis graded according to the definition of NAFLD in a cohort of patients with CKD. Methods Hepatic liver fat content was evaluated by computed tomography (CT) scan in 291 patients from the Copenhagen Chronic Kidney Disease Cohort Study and in 866 age- and sex-matched individuals with normal kidney function from the Copenhagen General Population Study. Liver attenuation density <48 Hounsfield units was used as cut-off value for moderate-to-severe hepatic steatosis. Results The prevalence of moderate-to-severe hepatic steatosis was 7.9% and 10.7% (P = 0.177) among patients with CKD and controls, respectively. No association between liver fat content and CKD stage was found. In the pooled data set from both cohorts, adjusted odds ratios for moderate-to-severe hepatic steatosis among persons with diabetes, overweight and obesity amounted to 3.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-5.9), 14.8 (95% CI 4.6-47.9) and 42.0 (95% CI 12.9-136.6), respectively. Conclusions In a cohort of 291 patients with CKD, kidney function was not associated with the prevalence of moderate-to-severe hepatic steatosis as assessed by CT scan.

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Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Overweight Children and its Relationship with Retinol Serum Levels

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831.78.1.27 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 78 (1) ◽

pp. 27-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Suano de Souza ◽

Silverio Amancio ◽

Saccardo Sarni ◽

Sacchi Pitta ◽

Fernandes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Insulin Resistance ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Lipid Profile ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Thiobarbituric Acid ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Control Group ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the retinol serum levels, lipid profile, and insulin resistance in overweight/obese children. To relate these biochemical variables with the risk of this disease in the population studied. Methods: The study was cross-sectional and prospective, with 46 overweight/obese school children (28 female, 18 male; mean age 8.6 years). The control group consisted of 45 children, paired by age and gender. Hepatic steatosis, evaluated by ultrasound, was classified as normal, mild, moderate, or severe. Also evaluated were serum retinol levels; thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; lipid profile; and fasting glucose and serum insulin levels, used for the calculation of the Homeostasis Model Assessment. Results: Hepatic ultrasound alterations were found in 56.5% and 48,9% of the overweight/obese and control group children, respectively. Presence of obesity was associated with high levels of triglycerides (OR = 4.6; P = 0.002). In the studied children, the risk of steatosis was related to a trend to a higher percentage of retinol inadequacy (OR = 2.8; p = 0.051); there was no association with thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, lipid profile, or insulin resistance. Conclusions: The high frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in both groups, evaluated by hepatic ultrasound, in low-socioeconomic level children, independent of nutritional condition and without significant association with insulin resistance, emphasizes that especially in developing countries, other risk factors such as micronutrient deficiencies (e.g. vitamin A) are involved.

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