Total body metabolism of 13C-octanoic acid is preserved in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, but differs between women and men.
OBJECTIVE
Among numerous factors which account for the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), hepatic mitochondrial beta-oxidation is considered to play a pivotal role. We performed a (13)C-based breath test with a medium-chain fatty acid to non-invasively assess total body beta-oxidation in patients with NASH and in healthy controls.


METHODS
We performed a simplified (13)CO(2)-based breath test in 16 patients with histologically proven NASH and 24 healthy controls. One hundred milligrams of sodium (13)C-octanoate dissolved in 200 ml of water were orally administered and breath samples were collected before and during 3 h following administration. The samples were analysed for the cumulative (13)CO(2) recovery (%-cum-dose) by non-dispersive infrared spectrometry. Additionally, data of 69 patients who had undergone a C-octanoate breath test for the assessment of gastric emptying were retrospectively evaluated for the %-cum-dose.


RESULTS
The cumulative (13)CO(2) recovery 3 h after the administration of the substrate did not differ among patients with NASH and controls (34.6 +/- 7.0% vs. 34.6 +/- 6.5%, P = 0.90). Compared with men, women yielded a significantly higher cumulative (13)CO(2) excretion in both controls (30.1 +/- 5.7% vs. 38.5 +/- 4.4%, P = 0.0008) and NASH patients (30.2 +/- 5.4% vs. 39.0 +/- 6.5%, P = 0.031). Forty-two of 69 patients (61%) of the gastric emptying group showed a normal gastric emptying rate. Among these patients, women also demonstrated a tendency for a higher (13)CO(2) recovery compared with men (P = 0.055). This was not the case in 27 patients with delayed gastric emptying (P = 0.47).


CONCLUSIONS
Though hepatic mitochondrial function might be impaired in patients with NASH, total beta-oxidation of octanoic acid remains normal. Gender-specific metabolic modifications seem to account for significant differences of the cumulative (13)CO(2) recovery in women and men. This may have further consequences for the appraisal of (13)C breath tests which involve octanoic acid. Further trials focusing on the assessment of body composition and energy expenditure could contribute essential further information.
Schneider
Arne R J
AR
Medical Department I-ZAFES, Hospital of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
Kraut
Christine
C
Lindenthal
Birgit
B
Braden
Barbara
B
Caspary
Wolfgang F
WF
Stein
Jürgen
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D002210:Caprylates / Q000378:metabolism*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012737:Sex Factors
D002210:Caprylates; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; C031492:octanoic acid