title: Efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids, atorvastatin and orlistat in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with dyslipidemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of three hypolipidemic agents in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease associated with hyperlipidemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with dyslipidemia (Fredrickson type IIb), asymptomatic persistent transaminasemia lasting 24 weeks, and evidence of hepatic fat infiltration on ultrasonography and liver biopsy were studied. Those with predominant hypertriglyceridemia received omega-3 fatty acids (5 mL thrice daily) (Group A), those with predominant hypercholesterolemia received atorvastatin 20 mg/daily (Group B), and overweight patients received orlistat 120 mg thrice daily before meals (Group C). After 24 weeks of treatment, serum transaminase and lipid levels and liver ultrasonography were repeated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum transaminase levels decreased significantly (p< 0.001) in all groups but the decrease was more marked in Group C (AST 75 [16] to 31 [7] IU/L; ALT 120 [38] to 41 [10] IU/L) than in Group A (AST 70 [14] to 41 [6]; ALT 110 [20] to 68 [12]) or Group B (AST 68 [13] to 46 [9]; ALT 115 [22] to 76.6 [13]). After treatment, ultrasonography showed resolution of fatty liver in 35% of patients in Group A, 61% in Group B, and in 86% in Group C (p< 0.001, Group C vs. A).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A decline in transaminase levels and normalization of ultrasonographic evidence of fatty liver were observed on treatment with omega-3 fatty acids in patients with hypertriglyceridemia, with atorvastatin in those with hypercholesterolemia, and orlistat in overweight patients with hyperlipidemia.
authors.affiliation: First Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Ahepa General Hospital, Aristotelion University of Thessaloniki, Greece. aee@med.auth.gr
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hatzitolios
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Savopoulos
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lazaraki
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sidiropoulos
authors.forename: Persefoni
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haritanti
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lefkopoulos
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karagiannopoulou
authors.forename: Valentini
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tzioufa
authors.forename: Koliouskas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dimitrios
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007783:Lactones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077403:Orlistat; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D007783:Lactones; D011758:Pyrroles; D000077403:Orlistat; D000069059:Atorvastatin