Efficacy of Submicron Dispersible Free Phytosterols on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Pilot Study
Background: No pharmacological treatment is yet approved for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Plant sterols have shown healthy properties beyond lowering LDL-cholesterol, including lowering triglycerides and lipoprotein plasma levels. Despite pre-clinical data suggesting their involvement...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/3/979 |
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| author | María C. Brañes Raimundo Gillet Rodrigo Valenzuela |
| author_facet | María C. Brañes Raimundo Gillet Rodrigo Valenzuela |
| author_sort | María C. Brañes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: No pharmacological treatment is yet approved for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Plant sterols have shown healthy properties beyond lowering LDL-cholesterol, including lowering triglycerides and lipoprotein plasma levels. Despite pre-clinical data suggesting their involvement in liver fat control, no clinical study has yet been successful. Aims: Testing a sub-micron, free, phytosterol dispersion efficacy on NAFLD. Methods: A prospective, uncontrolled pilot study was carried out on 26 patients with ≥17.4% liver steatosis quantified by magnetic resonance imaging. Subjects consumed daily a sub-micron dispersion providing 2 g of phytosterols. Liver fat, plasma lipids, lipoproteins, liver enzymes, glycemia, insulinemia, phytosterols, liposoluble vitamins and C-reactive protein were assessed at baseline and after one year of treatment. Results: Liver steatosis relative change was −19%, and 27% of patients reduced liver fat by more than 30%. Statistically and clinically significant improvements in plasma triglycerides, HDL-C, VLDL and HDL particle number and C-reactive protein were obtained, despite the rise of aspartate aminotransferase, glycemia and insulinemia. Though phytosterol plasma levels were raised by >30%, no adverse effects were presented, and even vitamin D increased by 23%. Conclusions: Our results are the first evidence in humans of the efficacy of submicron dispersible phytosterols for the treatment of liver steatosis, dyslipidemia and inflammatory status in NAFLD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:38:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b9c7ed3159e4036b2900dc5c791bb4e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:38:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b9c7ed3159e4036b2900dc5c791bb4e2023-11-16T17:09:58ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832023-01-0112397910.3390/jcm12030979Efficacy of Submicron Dispersible Free Phytosterols on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Pilot StudyMaría C. Brañes0Raimundo Gillet1Rodrigo Valenzuela2Naturalis Research Consortium, Santiago 8700548, ChileNaturalis Research Consortium, Santiago 8700548, ChileDepartment of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago 8380000, ChileBackground: No pharmacological treatment is yet approved for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Plant sterols have shown healthy properties beyond lowering LDL-cholesterol, including lowering triglycerides and lipoprotein plasma levels. Despite pre-clinical data suggesting their involvement in liver fat control, no clinical study has yet been successful. Aims: Testing a sub-micron, free, phytosterol dispersion efficacy on NAFLD. Methods: A prospective, uncontrolled pilot study was carried out on 26 patients with ≥17.4% liver steatosis quantified by magnetic resonance imaging. Subjects consumed daily a sub-micron dispersion providing 2 g of phytosterols. Liver fat, plasma lipids, lipoproteins, liver enzymes, glycemia, insulinemia, phytosterols, liposoluble vitamins and C-reactive protein were assessed at baseline and after one year of treatment. Results: Liver steatosis relative change was −19%, and 27% of patients reduced liver fat by more than 30%. Statistically and clinically significant improvements in plasma triglycerides, HDL-C, VLDL and HDL particle number and C-reactive protein were obtained, despite the rise of aspartate aminotransferase, glycemia and insulinemia. Though phytosterol plasma levels were raised by >30%, no adverse effects were presented, and even vitamin D increased by 23%. Conclusions: Our results are the first evidence in humans of the efficacy of submicron dispersible phytosterols for the treatment of liver steatosis, dyslipidemia and inflammatory status in NAFLD.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/3/979liver steatosisplant sterolswater-dispersible phytosterolsmetabolic parameters |
| spellingShingle | María C. Brañes Raimundo Gillet Rodrigo Valenzuela Efficacy of Submicron Dispersible Free Phytosterols on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Pilot Study Journal of Clinical Medicine liver steatosis plant sterols water-dispersible phytosterols metabolic parameters |
| title | Efficacy of Submicron Dispersible Free Phytosterols on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Pilot Study |
| title_full | Efficacy of Submicron Dispersible Free Phytosterols on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy of Submicron Dispersible Free Phytosterols on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy of Submicron Dispersible Free Phytosterols on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Pilot Study |
| title_short | Efficacy of Submicron Dispersible Free Phytosterols on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Pilot Study |
| title_sort | efficacy of submicron dispersible free phytosterols on non alcoholic fatty liver disease a pilot study |
| topic | liver steatosis plant sterols water-dispersible phytosterols metabolic parameters |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/3/979 |
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