Eating too much fatty food increases the risk of many health problems, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and NAFLD. The excess fat that accumulates in the liver during non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) leads to inflammation and progressive damage and scarring, called liver cirrhosis. NAFLD rates affecting approximately 27 percent of adults globally. But cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver in Singapore are much more common – 40%. A new study comes with results that bring hope in the direction of disease prevention.
Long-term research by Duke-NUS Medical School on the omega-3 transporter protein Mfsd2a has shown that it plays a key role in a specific mechanism that prevents the liver from storing too much fat from food. Published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, this latest study by Duke-NUS and collaborators at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) signals the possibility that a dietary supplement could be developed to help prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Scientists have discovered that a special Omega-3 lipid could prevent fatty liver disease
A type of fat called phospholipids is essential for making cell membranes and protects the liver from the harmful effects of dietary fat. “For over a decade, researchers at Duke-NUS have studied Mfsd2a, which transports the phospholipid lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) into cells,” said Dr. Chin Cheen Fei, first author of the study and researcher in the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders (CVMD) Program at Duke-NUS. “In this latest work, we set out to determine whether LPC transport to the liver by Mfsd2a is an important source for hepatic phospholipids and a means to protect the liver against NAFLD.”
Omega-3 lysolipids are important for protecting the liver from dietary fat
The team engaged in studies using preclinical and isolated human liver samples. They focused on the effect of a variety of measures that altered the activity of Mfsd2a and its uptake of specific lipids. “Our findings show that LPC lipids, especially those containing polyunsaturated fatty acids such as the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, could become a long-term preventive measure for NAFLD,” said Dr. George Goh, senior consultant at SGH and one of the study’s collaborators. “Our study is the first to suggest the potential of dietary LPC supplementation in protecting the liver against damage caused by a high-fat diet.”
“Our findings show that LPC lipids, especially those containing polyunsaturated fatty acids such as the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, could become a long-term preventative for NAFLD,” said Dr. George Goh, senior consultant at SGH and one of the study’s collaborators. “Our study is the first to suggest the potential of dietary LPC supplementation in protecting the liver against damage caused by a high-fat diet.”
Stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
NAFLD takes years to develop and can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis, so supplements taken during this time may offer protection. “Our study highlights the importance of taking a proactive approach to maintaining a healthy liver,” said Professor David Silver, lead author of the study and deputy director of the CVMD programme. “Overeating fatty foods can cause cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and NAFLD. The prevalence of NAFLD is of major importance to the general population, which is becoming increasingly aware of this problem.”
Research into the influence of Omega 3 on liver health continues
As the discovery marks a significant development in the search for a way to protect liver function from a disease that affects a growing number of people worldwide, the Duke-NUS research team now plans to undertake rigorous clinical trials with their collaborators at SGH to test whether LPC supplementation can actually improve outcomes in NAFLD patients. “If the studies prove successful, this work could help the large number of people around the world whose health is severely affected by this condition,” Professor Silver told Science Daily.
Sources: Science Daily
Journal of Clinical Investigation
2023-07-21 21:11:38
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