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European Journal of Nutrition

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01-04-2020 | Fatty Liver | Original Contribution

Erythrocyte membrane n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are inversely associated with the presence and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese adults: a prospective study

Authors: Zhan-yong Chen, Meng Liu, Li-peng Jing, Mian-li Xiao, Hong-li Dong, Geng-dong Chen, Yu-ming Chen

Published in: European Journal of Nutrition | Issue 3/2020

Abstract

Purpose

Previous studies have shown that high-dose supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may benefit patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the association of n-3 PUFAs with NAFLD among individuals with normal diets is only speculative. We investigated the cross-sectional and prospective associations between n-3 PUFAs and NAFLD in Chinese adults.

Methods

This community-based prospective study included 3049 men and women (40–75 years) in Guangzhou, China, whose participants completed an NAFLD ultrasound evaluation and erythrocyte PUFA tests. A total of 2660 participants underwent the second NAFLD evaluation approximately 3 years later. α-Linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in erythrocytes were measured by gas chromatography.

Results

After adjusting for potential confounders, we observed inverse associations between DHA, DHA + EPA, total n-3 PUFAs and the presence of NAFLD in the cross-sectional analysis. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of NAFLD for the highest (vs. lowest) tertile were 0.74 (0.61, 0.90) for DHA, 0.82 (0.67, 1.00) for EPA, 0.73 (0.60, 0.88) for DHA + EPA and 0.74 (0.61, 0.91) for total n-3 PUFAs (all P values≤0.05). Over the average 3.12 years of follow-up, higher levels of DHA was associated with an improvement of NAFLD. The hazard ratio of improved NAFLD for the highest tertile was 1.18 (95% CI 1.09, 1.33) for DHA. Pathway analyses showed that favorable associations may be mediated by improvements in inflammatory markers (e.g., interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha-like).

Conclusions

Erythrocyte membrane n-3 PUFAs are inversely associated with the presence and progression of NAFLD in Chinese adults.

Trial registrations

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03179657.

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Title: Erythrocyte membrane n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are inversely associated with the presence and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese adults: a prospective study
Authors: Zhan-yong Chen
Meng Liu
Li-peng Jing
Mian-li Xiao
Hong-li Dong
Geng-dong Chen
Yu-ming Chen
Publication date: 01-04-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword: Fatty Liver
Published in: European Journal of Nutrition / Issue 3/2020
Print ISSN: 1436-6207
Electronic ISSN: 1436-6215
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-01953-2

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Erythrocyte membrane n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are inversely associated with the presence and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese adults: a prospective study

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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