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Conversion of Sugar to Fat: Is Hepatic de Novo Lipogenesis Leading to Metabolic Syndrome and Associated Chronic Diseases?
Schwarz, JM, Clearfield, M, Mulligan, K
The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 2017;(8):520-527
Abstract
Epidemiologic studies suggest a link between excess sugar consumption and obesity, fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. One important pathway that may link these metabolic diseases to sugar consumption is hepatic conversion of sugar to fat, a process known as de novo lipogenesis (DNL). Mechanistic studies have shown that diets high in simple sugars increase both DNL and liver fat. Importantly, removal of sugar from diets of children with obesity for only 9 days consistently reduced DNL and liver fat and improved glucose and lipid metabolism. Although the sugar and beverage industries continue to question the scientific evidence linking high-sugar diets to metabolic diseases, major health organizations now make evidence-based recommendations to limit consumption of simple sugars to no more than 5% to 10% of daily intake. Clear recommendation about moderating sugar intake to patients may be an important nonpharmacologic tool to include in clinical practice.
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Systematic review with meta-analysis: non-alcoholic steatohepatitis - a case for personalised treatment based on pathogenic targets.
Younossi, ZM, Reyes, MJ, Mishra, A, Mehta, R, Henry, L
Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics. 2014;(1):3-14
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an umbrella term, which encompasses simple steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The entire spectrum of NAFLD has been associated with metabolic syndrome. NASH is associated with increased mortality compared with that of the general population. Many therapeutic options for NASH have been studied. However, there is very little evidence supporting the efficacy of most regimens for the treatment of NASH. AIM: To provide a review focusing on the current therapeutic options available for patients with NASH as well as to briefly introduce possible future interventions. METHODS A MEDLINE, Pubmed and Cochrane Review database search using a combination of keywords, which included non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis, NAFLD, NASH, treatment, therapeutics, vitamin E, orlistat and bariatric surgery. An overall summary of the articles was developed for each section of discussion in this review. RESULTS NASH associated with metabolic syndrome can progress advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. Weight loss and lifestyle modification have been shown to improve NASH. Other medications used for weight loss and metabolic syndrome have been evaluated, such as orlistat, metformin and thiazolidinediones. Alternative regimens using ursodeoxycholic acid, statins and probiotics as well as bariatric surgery have been evaluated, but have not been recommended as first-line treatment for NASH. Vitamin E for NASH patients without diabetes seems to be promising. The lack of effective treatment for NASH suggests the heterogeneity of patients presenting with the NASH phenotype. The best treatment strategy for these patients may be to identify their pathogenic target and develop personalised treatment protocols. CONCLUSIONS Currently, there are few options available for the management of NASH. Future targeted treatment strategies based on the pathogenic pathways may be needed to develop effective treatment for patients with NASH.
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Phenotyping the effect of diet on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
de Wit, NJ, Afman, LA, Mensink, M, Müller, M
Journal of hepatology. 2012;(6):1370-3
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with the growing incidence of metabolic syndrome. Diet is an important contributor to the pathogenesis of NAFLD. In this review, we focused on recent publications reporting on the effect of macro- and micronutrients on development and progression of NAFLD. In general, saturated fat and fructose seem to stimulate hepatic lipid accumulation and progression into NASH, whereas unsaturated fat, choline, antioxidants, and high-protein diets rich in isoflavones seem to have a more preventive effect. Knowledge of the underlying mechanisms by which diet affects NAFLD is expanding, not in the least due to innovative techniques, such as genomics tools that provide detailed comprehensive information on a large high-throughput scale. Although most nutrients seem to interfere with the balance between hepatic de novo lipogenesis (endogenous synthesis of fatty acids) and lipid oxidation (burning fat for energy), there are also indications that diet can trigger or prevent hepatic lipid accumulation by influencing the interaction between liver, gut, and adipose tissue. This review now gives a current detailed overview of diet-mediated mechanisms underlying NAFLD development and progression and summarizes recent results of genomics (transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics) studies that contribute to improved staging, monitoring and understanding of NAFLD pathophysiology.
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Dyslipidemia in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Chatrath, H, Vuppalanchi, R, Chalasani, N
Seminars in liver disease. 2012;(1):22-9
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Abstract
Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) often have dyslipidemia along with other features of metabolic syndrome such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The dyslipidemia in NAFLD is characterized by increased serum triglycerides, increased small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL nontype A) particles, and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The pathogenesis of dyslipidemia in NAFLD is not well understood, but it is likely related to hepatic overproduction of the very low-density lipoprotein particles and dysregulated clearance of lipoproteins from the circulation. There is unequivocal evidence that cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of mortality in patients with NAFLD. Aggressive treatment of dyslipidemia plays a critical role in the overall management of patients with NAFLD. Statins are the first-line agents to treat high cholesterol and their dosage should be adjusted based on achieving therapeutic targets and tolerability. Although all statins appear to be effective in improving cholesterol levels in patients with NAFLD, there is more experience with atorvastatin in patients with NAFLD; furthermore, it is the only statin to date to show a reduced cardiovascular morbidity in patients with NAFLD. The risk for serious liver injury from statins is quite rare and patients with NAFLD are not at increased risk for statin hepatotoxicity. Omega-3 fatty acids are perhaps the first choice to treat hypertriglyceridemia because of their safety, tolerability, and efficacy in improving serum triglycerides, as well as their potential to improve liver disease.
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The interaction of hepatic lipid and glucose metabolism in liver diseases.
Bechmann, LP, Hannivoort, RA, Gerken, G, Hotamisligil, GS, Trauner, M, Canbay, A
Journal of hepatology. 2012;(4):952-64
Abstract
It is widely known that the liver is a central organ in lipogenesis, gluconeogenesis and cholesterol metabolism. However, over the last decades, a variety of pathological conditions highlighted the importance of metabolic functions within the diseased liver. As observed in Western societies, an increase in the prevalence of obesity and the metabolic syndrome promotes pathophysiological changes that cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD increases the susceptibility of the liver to acute liver injury and may lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer. Alterations in insulin response, β-oxidation, lipid storage and transport, autophagy and an imbalance in chemokines and nuclear receptor signaling are held accountable for these changes. Furthermore, recent studies revealed a role for lipid accumulation in inflammation and ER stress in the clinical context of liver regeneration and hepatic carcinogenesis. This review focuses on novel findings related to nuclear receptor signaling - including the vitamin D receptor and the liver receptor homolog 1 - in hepatic lipid and glucose uptake, storage and metabolism in the clinical context of NAFLD, liver regeneration, and cancer.
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Treatment regimens for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Lam, BP, Younossi, ZM
Annals of hepatology. 2009;:S51-9
Abstract
With the growing epidemic of obesity and diabetes, more attention has been placed on metabolic syndrome and its associated hepatic manifestation, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Within the spectrum of clinico-pathologic conditions known as NAFLD, only a minority of patients has the histological features characteristic of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which has the potential to progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, diagnosis and therapy should target patients with NASH. Current treatment recommendations include weight loss and the reversal of other components of metabolic syndrome, but several other treatment modalities are under investigation. To date, no pharmacologic treatment has been reliably shown to be effective for NASH. This article reviews all available treatment modalities, including lifestyle changes, bariatric surgery, weight loss medications, insulin sensitizers, lipid lowering agents, antioxidants, cytoprotective agents, and other novel treatments.
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Metabolic liver disease of obesity and role of adipose tissue in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Qureshi, K, Abrams, GA
World journal of gastroenterology. 2007;(26):3540-53
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly recognized cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. It can develop secondary to numerous causes but a great majority of NAFLD cases occur in patients who are obese or present with other components of metabolic syndrome (hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes). This is called primary NAFLD and insulin resistance plays a key role in its pathogenesis. Obesity is characterized by expanded adipose tissue, which is under a state of chronic inflammation. This disturbs the normal storage and endocrine functions of adipose tissue. In obesity, the secretome (adipokines, cytokines, free fatty acids and other lipid moieties) of fatty tissue is amplified, which through its autocrine, paracrine actions in fat tissue and systemic effects especially in the liver leads to an altered metabolic state with insulin resistance (IR). IR leads to hyperglycemia and reactive hyperinsulinemia, which stimulates lipid-accumulating processes and impairs hepatic lipid metabolism. IR enhances free fatty acid delivery to liver from the adipose tissue storage due to uninhibited lipolysis. These changes result in hepatic abnormal fat accumulation, which may initiate the hepatic IR and further aggravate the altered metabolic state of whole body. Hepatic steatosis can also be explained by the fact that there is enhanced dietary fat delivery and physical inactivity. IR and NAFLD are also seen in various lipodystrophic states in contrary to popular belief that these problems only occur due to excessive adiposity in obesity. Hence, altered physiology of adipose tissue is central to development of IR, metabolic syndrome and NAFLD.
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Review article: Drug therapy for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Comar, KM, Sterling, RK
Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics. 2006;(2):207-15
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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease represents a spectrum of liver diseases, characterized mainly by macrovesicular steatosis in the absence of significant alcohol ingestion. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease includes both non-alcoholic fatty liver and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis once considered a benign process is now known to lead to progressive fibrosis and cirrhosis. Histologically indistinguishable from alcoholic liver disease, the exact aetiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease remains unknown, but the fundamental pathophysiological process appears to be insulin resistance and oxidative stress related to the metabolic syndrome. Therapy has focused on risk factors, weight reduction and pharmacological intervention. Promising pharmacological treatments have been demonstrated with antioxidants, insulin sensitizers, hepatoprotectants and lipid-lowering agents. However, without larger randomized studies, no pharmacological treatments can be recommended at this time.
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Review article: the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with thiazolidinediones.
Reynaert, H, Geerts, A, Henrion, J
Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics. 2005;(10):897-905
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Abstract
It is generally accepted that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease will be the most frequent liver disease in the near future and that the management of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease will be a challenge for hepatologists in the next decades. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is considered the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, in which insulin resistance plays a crucial role. Although steatosis will often not progress to severe liver disease, in some patients, it results in cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, it is important to identify those patients at risk for developing fibrosis. Age, diabetes, obesity and hypertriglyceridaemia are independent risk factors for fibrosis in patients with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase levels and steatosis on ultrasound. The presence of multiple metabolic disorders increases the risk. Apart from diet, exercise and correction of underlying metabolic abnormalities, no specific treatment is available at the moment. Theoretically, thiazolidinediones are an attractive way to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, because they improve insulin resistance. Some preliminary studies with thiazolidinediones were encouraging, as steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis improved in a substantial number of patients. Although no serious side effects occurred in the pilot studies, we should look vigilantly for hepatotoxicity, as the first generation thiazolidinediones proved to be toxic for the liver.