title: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its treatment with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disease in Western countries. Metabolic disorders which are increasing in prevalence, such as dyslipidaemias, obesity and type 2 diabetes, are closely related to NAFLD. Insulin resistance is a prominent risk factor for NAFLD. Marine omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are able to decrease plasma triacylglycerol and diets rich in marine n-3 PUFAs are associated with a lower cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, marine n-3 PUFAs are precursors of pro-resolving and anti-inflammatory mediators. They can modulate lipid metabolism by enhancing fatty acid β-oxidation and decreasing de novo lipogenesis. Therefore, they may play an important role in prevention and therapy of NAFLD.
  
  
  
  This review aims to gather the currently information about marine n-3 PUFAs as a therapeutic approach in NAFLD. Actions of marine n-3 PUFAs on hepatic fat metabolism are reported, as well as studies addressing the effects of marine n-3 PUFAs in human subjects with NAFLD.
  
  
  
  A total seventeen published human studies investigating the effects of n-3 PUFAs on markers of NAFLD were found and twelve of these reported a decrease in liver fat and/or other markers of NAFLD after supplementation with n-3 PUFAs. The failure of n-3 PUFAs to decrease markers of NAFLD in five studies may be due to short duration, poor compliance, patient specific factors and the sensitivity of the methods used.
  
  
  
  Marine n-3 PUFAs are likely to be an important tool for NAFLD treatment, although further studies are required to confirm this.
authors.affiliation: Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK. Electronic address: gsalimcastro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gabriela S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.affiliation: Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK. Electronic address: pcc@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Calder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005395:Fish Oils; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome; D051379:Mice; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils
keywords: Algal oil; Fish oil; Insulin resistance; Metabolic syndrome; NAFLD; Omega-3 fatty acids