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.

Abstract

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.

• Authors: Hyohun Park, Goji Hasegawa, Toshihide Shima, Michiaki Fukui, Naoto Nakamura, Kanji Yamaguchi, Hironori Mitsuyoshi, Masahito Minami, Kohichiroh Yasui, Yoshito Itoh, Toshikazu Yoshikawa, Jo Kitawaki, Mitsumiro Ohta, Hiroshi Obayashi, Takeshi Okanoue
• Journal: Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry (Clin Chim Acta) Vol. 411 Issue 21-22 Pg. 1735-40 (Nov 11 2010) ISSN: 1873-3492 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 20654606 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Azetidines
• Cholesterol Esters
• Fatty Acids
• Fatty Acid Desaturases
• Ezetimibe

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Azetidines (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Case-Control Studies
• Cholesterol Esters (blood, chemistry)
• Ezetimibe
• Fatty Acid Desaturases (metabolism)
• Fatty Acids (analysis)
• Fatty Liver (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Treatment Outcome