The fatty acid composition of plasma cholesteryl esters and estimated desaturase activities in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and the effect of long-term ezetimibe therapy on these levels.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between fatty acid composition of plasma cholesteryl esters (CEs) and estimated desaturase activity and the development and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The study also assessed the effect of ezetimibe on CE levels.


METHODS
Plasma CEs fatty acid composition was analyzed in 3 groups: patients with a NAFLD activity score (NAS) ≤ 4 (n=31) or NAS ≥ 5 (n=32) and normal controls (n=25). The estimated desaturase activities were calculated using ratios of 16:1n-7/16:0 (D9-16D), 18:1n-9/18:0 (D9-18D), 18:3n-6/18:2n-6 (D6D) and 20:4n-6/20:3n-6 (D5D).


RESULTS
Compared with controls, the levels of palmitate, palmitoleate, γ-linoleate, D9-16D and D6D were significantly increased, whereas levels of linoleate and D5D were significantly decreased. Patients with NAS ≥ 5 had significantly higher palmitate levels than patients with NAS ≤ 4. The levels of these fatty acids, especially palmitate and palmitoleate, correlated with NAFLD-related lipid, metabolic, and inflammatory parameters. Long-term therapy with ezetimibe caused significant improvements in the levels of these fatty acids, estimated desaturase activity index and NAFLD-related parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that fatty acids and desaturase activity associate with the development and progression of NAFLD, and that ezetimibe may be a novel treatment for this disorder.
Park
Hyohun
H
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saiseikai Suita Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Hasegawa
Goji
G
Shima
Toshihide
T
Fukui
Michiaki
M
Nakamura
Naoto
N
Yamaguchi
Kanji
K
Mitsuyoshi
Hironori
H
Minami
Masahito
M
Yasui
Kohichiroh
K
Itoh
Yoshito
Y
Yoshikawa
Toshikazu
T
Kitawaki
Jo
J
Ohta
Mitsumiro
M
Obayashi
Hiroshi
H
Okanoue
Takeshi
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001384:Azetidines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D000069438:Ezetimibe; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001384:Azetidines; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D005227:Fatty Acids; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; D000069438:Ezetimibe