Recent literature suggests that the dietary imbalance between high omega-6 (n6) and low omega-3 (n3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake, characteristic of the Western diet (average ratio 15:1), leads to development of fatty liver disease. We aimed to determine whether 12 weeks of a low n6/n3 PUFA ratio (4:1) normo-caloric diet might impact fatty liver (MRI assessed hepatic fat content ≥5.5%). Twenty obese adolescents with fatty liver were recruited (13.2±2.9y). Abdominal MRI and OGTT were performed at baseline and after 12-weeks intervention, the oxidized derivatives of linoleic acid (OXLAM) were measured every 4 weeks to assess compliance. Food was supplied to participants isocaloric to their pre-study diet. To control for weight change variable, weight was maintained stable throughout the study. Seventeen adolescents completed the study. After 12 weeks HFF%, decreased of about 26% (Figure 1). There was also a significant decrease in plasma concentrations of ALT (Figure 1), triglycerides (p=0.04) cholesterol (p=0.03), LDL (p=0.07) and an improvement of whole-body insulin resistance (p=0.01). There was a significant decrease of the OXLAM, 9- and 13-HODE (p=0.03 and p=0.01, respectively) and 9- and 13-oxo-ODE (p=0.05 and p=0.01, respectively). These data suggest that, independent of weight loss, a low n6/n3 PUFA diet is effective to ameliorate the metabolic phenotype of adolescents with fatty liver disease.
M.A. Van Name: Research Support; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc. J.M. Chick: None. M. Savoye: None. B. Pierpont: None. B. Galuppo: None. A. Feldstein: None. N. Santoro: None.
National Institutes of Health; American Heart Association
