title: Nutritional assessment and hepatic fatty acid composition in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low hepatic n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) may contribute to steatosis and steatohepatitis and can be affected by diet and oxidative stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-three patients referred for elevated liver enzymes and suspected NAFLD were assessed. Nutritional assessment, hepatic FA composition and oxidative stress were compared between these groups: simple steatosis (SS, n=18), steatohepatitis (NASH, n=38) and minimal findings on liver biopsy (MF, n=17).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with NASH had higher: BMI, central obesity, body fat, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and lower physical activity compared to the other groups. They also had relatively lower hepatic n-3 and n-6 PUFA, a decrease in the ratio of metabolites to essential FA precursors for both n-6 and n-3 FA (eicosapentaenoic+docosahexaenoic/linolenic and arachidonic/linoleic acid ratios) and higher liver lipid peroxides with lower antioxidant power, when compared to MF. Overall, there was no significant difference between SS and NASH in FA composition. Self-reported dietary intake and red blood cell FA composition were similar among the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NASH patients have more metabolic abnormalities. This is associated with higher oxidative stress and lower n-3 and n-6 PUFA in the liver in the absence of any differences in dietary FA composition.
authors: The University of Toronto and The University Health Network, The Toronto General Hospital, 200 Elizabeth Street, 9N-973, Toronto, Ont., Canada M5G-2C4. johane.allard@uhn.on.ca
authors: Johane P
authors: JP
authors: Allard
authors: Elaheh
authors: E
authors: Aghdassi
authors: Saira
authors: S
authors: Mohammed
authors: Maitreyi
authors: M
authors: Raman
authors: Ghazal
authors: G
authors: Avand
authors: Bianca M
authors: BM
authors: Arendt
authors: Pegah
authors: P
authors: Jalali
authors: Thileep
authors: T
authors: Kandasamy
authors: Nita
authors: N
authors: Prayitno
authors: Morris
authors: M
authors: Sherman
authors: Maha
authors: M
authors: Guindi
authors: David W L
authors: DW
authors: Ma
authors: Jenny E
authors: JE
authors: Heathcote
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids