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Reversal of hepatic steatosis by omega‐3 fatty acids measured non‐invasively by 1 H‐magnetic resonance spectroscopy in a rat model
Author(s) -
Marsman Hendrik A,
Heger Michal,
Kloek Jaap J,
Nienhuis Syert L,
van Werven Jochem R,
Nederveen Aart J,
ten Kate Fiebo JW,
Stoker Jaap,
van Gulik Thomas M
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2010.06326.x
Subject(s) - steatosis , medicine , fatty liver , choline , lipogenesis , endocrinology , methionine , gastroenterology , lipid profile , cholesterol , lipid metabolism , chemistry , biochemistry , disease , amino acid
Background and Aim: Living donors with marked (> 33%) macrovesicular steatosis (MaS) are excluded from living donor liver transplantation procedures. Experimental studies have shown that the development of steatosis can be prevented by supplementation with omega‐3 fatty acids (FA), but no studies have investigated the reduction of steatosis using omega‐3 FA. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether administration of omega‐3 FA is effective in reducing steatosis. Methods: After fatty liver (FL) induction by a 3‐week methionine/choline‐deficient (MCD) diet, male Wistar rats were daily administered per gavage omega‐3 FA (FL+Omega‐3), omega‐3‐poor lipid solution (FL+Lipid), or NaCl (FL+NaCl) during 2 weeks. Control animals received standard chow without treatment. Determination of steatosis degree was performed before, during, and after treatment by clinical 3.0T 1 H‐magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H‐MRS) and by histology and gas chromatography at the end of the 2‐week treatment period. Results: Hepatic fat content ( 1 H‐MRS) was significantly reduced after 1 and 2 weeks of omega‐3 FA treatment. Histological analysis revealed a mild (5–33%) MaS degree in omega‐3‐treated animals vs severe (> 66%) MaS in the FL+Lipid and FL+NaCl groups. Hepatic omega‐6 : 3 FA ratio and total FA content were reduced in the FL+Omega‐3 group. Furthermore, de novo lipogenesis (C16, C16 : 1ω7, C18 : 1ω9) was also lowered. The reduction in hepatic fat content was associated with decreased lobular inflammation and hepatic tumor necrosis factor‐ α and interleukin levels as well as an increased antioxidative capacity. Conclusion: Omega‐3 FA are capable of reversing severe hepatic MaS and ameliorating pathophysiological features of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis such as hepatocellular damage, lobular inflammation, and a reduced antioxidative capacity.