The effects of carnitine supplementation on clinical characteristics of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ObjectiveThe beneficial effects of carnitine supplementation on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of carnitine supplementation on liver function, lipid profile, body mass index, body weight, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.MethodsA comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were performed. Only randomized placebo-controlled human studies that examined the effects of carnitine supplementation on liver function, lipid profile, body mass index, body weight, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance up to September 2019 were included. Fixed effects or random-effects models were applied to compute the pooled effect size. Heterogeneity assessments were performed using Cochran’s Q test and I-squared statistics. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Jaded scale.ResultsA total of 5 articles were selected, including 334 individuals (167 in control and 167 in intervention groups). The results demonstrated that carnitine supplementation significantly reduced homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (WMD: −0.91; 95 % CI: −1.11, −0.72; p < 0.001, I² = 0.0 %) and the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (WMD: −16.62; 95 % CI: −28.11, −5.14; IU/l; p = 0.005, I² = 93.5 %), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (WMD: -33.39; 95 % CI: −45.13, −21.66; IU/l; p < 0.001, I² = 93.4 %), and triglycerides (TG) (WMD: −22.13; 95 % CI: −38.91, −5.34; mg/dl; p = 0.01; I² = 0.0 %). However, the results of the pooled effect size did not show any significant effect of carnitine supplementation on body mass index (BMI) (WMD: 0.07; 95 % CI: −0.15, 0.29; p = 0.55; I² = 0.0 %), body weight (WMD: −0.28; 95 % CI: −2.23, 1.68; p = 0.78; I² = 45.7 %), the levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (γGT) (WMD: −11.31; 95 % CI: −24.35, 1.73; IU/l; p = 0.09, I² = 61.1 %), cholesterol (WMD: −13.58; 95 % CI: −46.77, 19.60; mg/dl; p = 0.42; I² = 94.9 %), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (WMD: 1.36; 95 % CI: −0.96, 3.68; mg/dl; p = 0.25; I² = 64.7 %), and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD: −14.85; 95 % CI: −45.43, 15.73; mg/dl; p = 0.34; I² = 96.4 %).ConclusionsThis analysis shows that carnitine supplementation for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease demonstrates a reduction in AST, ALT, TG levels and HOMA-IR. However, no significant effect of carnitine supplementation was observed on BMI, body weight, the levels of γGT, TC, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol.     

sCD163在非酒精性脂肪肝儿童血清中的表达水平及其与传统肝纤维化血清学指标的相关性

【摘要】目的 探讨可溶性CD163（sCD163）在非酒精性脂肪性肝病儿童血清中的表达水平及其与传统肝纤维化血清学指标的相关性分析。 方法 选取我院2016年10月~2017年4月就诊的非酒精性脂肪肝儿童76例,收集患儿各项临床资料。根据患者疾病类型,将76例患儿分为单纯性非酒精性脂肪肝（NAFL）组（31例）、非酒精性脂肪性肝炎（NASH）组（45例）,另选取同期我院健康体检患儿30例作为健康对照组,比较3组儿童sCD163水平,采用Spearman等级相关分析非酒精性脂肪性肝病患儿sCD163血清水平与传统肝纤维化血清学指标的相关性,绘制血清sCD163诊断非酒精性脂肪性肝病患儿肝纤维化的受试者工作特征曲线（ROC）,计算曲线下面积及血清sCD163诊断非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者肝纤维化的敏感性、特异性。结果 3组儿童血清sCD163水平差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.001）,NASH组患儿血清sCD163水平明显高于健康对照组及NAFL组,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;经Spearman相关分析后结果显示：非酒精性脂肪性肝病患儿血清sCD163与层粘连蛋白（LN）、透明质酸（HA）、Ⅲ型前胶原（PCⅢ）、Ⅳ型胶原（CⅣ）指标均呈现正相关性（P＜0.001）;通过绘制ROC曲线,在血清sCD163取8218μg/L时,曲线下面积为0.907（95%Cl：0.883~0.931）,血清sCD163诊断非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者肝纤维化的敏感性、特异性分别为8466%、8691%。结论 非酒精性脂肪肝儿童血清sCD163中的表达水平较正常健康者高,血清sCD163与传统肝纤维化血清学指标存在正相关性,sCD163可作为评估非酒精性脂肪肝儿童肝纤维化的临床指标。     

The Impact of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Primary Care: A Population Health Perspective

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of liver disease worldwide, with rising rates in parallel to those of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. NAFLD encompasses a wide spectrum of pathology from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis, which are linked to poor outcomes. Studies confirm a significant amount of undiagnosed NAFLD and related fibrosis within the community, increasing the overall burden of the disease. NAFLD appears to be more prevalent in certain populations, such as those with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Early detection and lifestyle modifications, including weight loss and regular exercise, have been shown to improve outcomes. Adverse cardiovascular events are a key contributor to NAFLD-associated morbidity and mortality, and efforts to minimize their occurrence are essential. A targeted and algorithmic approach using noninvasive diagnostic techniques is promptly required to identify and risk-stratify patients with NAFLD. Patients at low risk of progression to NASH and advanced fibrosis can be managed in the primary care setting, while those at high risk of disease progression should be referred to hepatology specialists for surveillance and treatment. This review summarizes the key data of NAFLD's impact within primary care populations and proposes a potential algorithmic approach to identifying and managing such patients.     

Bariatric surgery improves metabolic and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease markers in metabolically healthy patients with morbid obesity at 5 years

BackgroundNo studies have evaluated the effect of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiometabolic markers in metabolically healthy patients with morbid obesity (MHMO) at midterm.ObjectivesTo assess the effect of MBS on NAFLD and cardiometabolic markers in MHMO patients and ascertain whether metabolically unhealthy patients with morbid obesity (MUMO) remain metabolically healthy at 5 years after MBS.SettingUniversity hospital.MethodsA total of 191 patients with a body mass index >40 kg/m² and at least 5 years of follow-up were retrospectively analyzed. Lost to follow-up were 37.6% (151 of 401 patients). Patients were classified as MHMO if 1 or 0 of the cardiometabolic markers were present using the Wildman criteria. The degree of liver fibrosis was assessed using the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS).ResultsForty-one patients (21.5%) fulfilled the criteria for MHMO. They showed significant improvements in blood pressure (from 135.1 ± 22.1 and 84.2 ± 14.3 mm Hg to 117.7 ± 19.2 and 73.0 ± 10.9 mm Hg), plasma glucose (from 91.0 ± 5.6 mg/dL to 87.2 ± 5.2 mg/dL), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (from 2.2 ± .9 to 1.0 ± .8), triglycerides (from 88.0 [range, 79.5–103.5] mg/dL to 61.0 [range, 2.0–76.5] mg/dL), alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase NFS (from −1.0 ± 1.0 to −1.9 ± 1.2), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (from 56.9 ± 10.5 mg/dL to 77.9 ± 17.4 mg/dL) at 5 years after surgery. A total of 108 MUMO patients (84.4%) who became metabolically healthy after 1 year stayed healthy at 5 years.ConclusionsMBS induced a midterm improvement in cardiometabolic and NAFLD markers in MHMO patients. Seventy-six percent of MUMO patients became metabolically healthy at 5 years after MBS.     

A Case of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth with Peripheral Edema Caused by Intestinal Bypass Surgery and Relieved by Repair

Intestinal bypass surgery, particularly jejuno-ileal bypass surgery, performed for the purpose of weight reduction may cause an unexpected exacerbation of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Here, we report a case of NASH caused by small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, which developed after jejuno-colic bypass surgery and resolved dramatically after surgical correction.