title: Prolonged n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation ameliorates hepatic steatosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a pilot study.
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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Center and Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. marco_cap@katamail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capanni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Calella
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Biagini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Genise
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raimondi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bedogni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Svegliati-Baroni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sofi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abbate
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Surrenti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D014280:Triglycerides; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase