1.
Marine omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Plasma proteomics in the randomized WELCOME* trial.
Manousopoulou, A, Scorletti, E, Smith, DE, Teng, J, Fotopoulos, M, Roumeliotis, TI, Clough, GF, Calder, PC, Byrne, CD, Garbis, SD
Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). 2019;(4):1952-1955
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a liver condition characterised by liver fat accumulation and often considered to be the liver manifestation of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to examine in patients with NAFLD the system-wide effects of treatment with docosahexaenoic acid + eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA + EPA) versus placebo on the plasma proteome. METHODS Plasma from patients that participated in a 15-18 months randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial testing the effects of 4 g DHA + EPA daily was analysed using depletion-free quantitative proteomics. RESULTS Bioinformatics interpretation of the proteomic analysis showed that DHA + EPA treatment affected pathways involving blood coagulation, immune/inflammatory response and cholesterol metabolism (p < 0.05). Two key proteins of cardiovascular risk, prothrombin and apolipoprotein B-100, were shown to decrease as a result of DHA + EPA supplementation [Prothrombin: Males DHA + EPA Mean iTRAQ log2ratio (SD) = -0.13 (0.20) p = 0.05, Females DHA + EPA Mean iTRAQ log2ratio (SD) = -0.48 (0.35) p = 0.03; Apo B-100: Males DHA + EPA Mean iTRAQ log2ratio (SD) = -0.24 (0.16) p = 0.01, Females DHA + EPA Mean iTRAQ log2ratio (SD) = -0.15 (0.05) p = 0.02]. CONCLUSIONS Plasma proteomics applied in a randomised, placebo-controlled trial showed that high dose DHA + EPA treatment in patients with NAFLD affects multiple pathways involved in chronic non-communicable diseases.
2.
Omega-3 fatty acids for treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: design and rationale of randomized controlled trial.
Janczyk, W, Socha, P, Lebensztejn, D, Wierzbicka, A, Mazur, A, Neuhoff-Murawska, J, Matusik, P
BMC pediatrics. 2013;:85
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a liver manifestation of metabolic syndrome since obesity and insulin resistance are the main pathogenic contributors for both conditions. NAFLD carries increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. There is an urgent need to find effective and safe therapy for children and adults with NAFLD. Data from research and clinical studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial in metabolic syndrome-related conditions and can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. METHODS/DESIGN We are conducting a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of treatment with omega-3 fatty acids in children with NAFLD. Patients are randomized to receive either omega-3 fatty acids containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or placebo for 24 weeks. The dose of omega-3 (DHA+ EPA) ranges from 450 to 1300 mg daily. Low calorie diet and increased physical activity are advised and monitored using validated questionnaires. The primary outcome of the trial is the number of patients who decreased ALT activity by ≥ 0,3 of upper limit of normal. The main secondary outcomes are improvement in the laboratory liver tests, liver steatosis on ultrasound, markers of insulin resistance and difference in fat/lean body mass composition after 6 months of intervention. DISCUSSION Potential efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of NAFLD will provide needed rationale for use of this safe diet supplement together with weight reduction therapy in the growing population of children with NAFLD. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT01547910.