Gabriela S de Castro1, Philip C Calder2. 1. Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK. Electronic address: gsalimcastro@gmail.com. 2. Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK. Electronic address: pcc@soton.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disease in Western countries. Metabolic disorders which are increasing in prevalence, such as dyslipidaemias, obesity and type 2 diabetes, are closely related to NAFLD. Insulin resistance is a prominent risk factor for NAFLD. Marine omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are able to decrease plasma triacylglycerol and diets rich in marine n-3 PUFAs are associated with a lower cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, marine n-3 PUFAs are precursors of pro-resolving and anti-inflammatory mediators. They can modulate lipid metabolism by enhancing fatty acid β-oxidation and decreasing de novo lipogenesis. Therefore, they may play an important role in prevention and therapy of NAFLD. METHODS: This review aims to gather the currently information about marine n-3 PUFAs as a therapeutic approach in NAFLD. Actions of marine n-3 PUFAs on hepatic fat metabolism are reported, as well as studies addressing the effects of marine n-3 PUFAs in human subjects with NAFLD. RESULTS: A total seventeen published human studies investigating the effects of n-3 PUFAs on markers of NAFLD were found and twelve of these reported a decrease in liver fat and/or other markers of NAFLD after supplementation with n-3 PUFAs. The failure of n-3 PUFAs to decrease markers of NAFLD in five studies may be due to short duration, poor compliance, patient specific factors and the sensitivity of the methods used. CONCLUSIONS: Marine n-3 PUFAs are likely to be an important tool for NAFLD treatment, although further studies are required to confirm this.
BACKGROUND & AIMS:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disease in Western countries. Metabolic disorders which are increasing in prevalence, such as dyslipidaemias, obesity and type 2 diabetes, are closely related to NAFLD. Insulin resistance is a prominent risk factor for NAFLD. Marine omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are able to decrease plasma triacylglycerol and diets rich in marine n-3 PUFAs are associated with a lower cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, marine n-3 PUFAs are precursors of pro-resolving and anti-inflammatory mediators. They can modulate lipid metabolism by enhancing fatty acid β-oxidation and decreasing de novo lipogenesis. Therefore, they may play an important role in prevention and therapy of NAFLD. METHODS: This review aims to gather the currently information about marine n-3 PUFAs as a therapeutic approach in NAFLD. Actions of marine n-3 PUFAs on hepatic fat metabolism are reported, as well as studies addressing the effects of marine n-3 PUFAs in human subjects with NAFLD. RESULTS: A total seventeen published human studies investigating the effects of n-3 PUFAs on markers of NAFLD were found and twelve of these reported a decrease in liver fat and/or other markers of NAFLD after supplementation with n-3 PUFAs. The failure of n-3 PUFAs to decrease markers of NAFLD in five studies may be due to short duration, poor compliance, patient specific factors and the sensitivity of the methods used. CONCLUSIONS: Marine n-3 PUFAs are likely to be an important tool for NAFLD treatment, although further studies are required to confirm this.
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