{"title":"High levels of serum dihomo-γ-linolenic acid are associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetic patients.","authors":"Kohei Mochizuki, Mariko Higa, Kayoko Ikehara, Takamasa Ichijo, Takahisa Hirose","doi":"10.1007/s13340-024-00760-3","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An elevated level of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). While n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were shown to improve NAFLD, the effects of n-6 PUFAs in the liver have not been fully elucidated. We examined the association between NAFLD and n-6 PUFAs, particularly dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), in patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 60 patients with type 2 diabetes were included in the study. Patients were categorized into the NAFLD group (<i>n</i> = 35) and non-NAFLD group (<i>n</i> = 25) based on the presence of fatty liver as determined by abdominal ultrasound. We demonstrated that the levels of serum SFAs, specifically palmitic acid and stearic acid, and the levels of n-6 PUFAs, specifically DGLA, and arachidonic acid (AA), were significantly higher in the NAFLD group. The serum palmitic acid, stearic acid, DGLA and AA levels were positively correlated with liver enzyme gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). We further demonstrated by multivariate analysis that serum DGLA was a predictor of NAFLD. The serum DGLA level was negatively correlated with blood adiponectin and was positively correlated with blood leptin, high-sensitivity CRP, C-peptide index, and triglyceride-glucose index. Furthermore, delta-5-desaturase (D5D), the AA (product)/DGLA (precursor) ratio calculated from the product-to-precursor ratio of fatty acids, was significantly lower in the NAFLD group. These findings suggest that high serum DGLA levels in NAFLD group may be due to an excessive intake of n-6 PUFAs and changes in desaturase in the human body. High serum DGLA levels may also be associated with insulin resistance and inflammatory factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":11340,"journal":{"name":"Diabetology International","volume":"16 1","pages":"107-114"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11769884/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Diabetology International","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s13340-024-00760-3","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/1/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
An elevated level of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). While n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were shown to improve NAFLD, the effects of n-6 PUFAs in the liver have not been fully elucidated. We examined the association between NAFLD and n-6 PUFAs, particularly dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), in patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 60 patients with type 2 diabetes were included in the study. Patients were categorized into the NAFLD group (n = 35) and non-NAFLD group (n = 25) based on the presence of fatty liver as determined by abdominal ultrasound. We demonstrated that the levels of serum SFAs, specifically palmitic acid and stearic acid, and the levels of n-6 PUFAs, specifically DGLA, and arachidonic acid (AA), were significantly higher in the NAFLD group. The serum palmitic acid, stearic acid, DGLA and AA levels were positively correlated with liver enzyme gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). We further demonstrated by multivariate analysis that serum DGLA was a predictor of NAFLD. The serum DGLA level was negatively correlated with blood adiponectin and was positively correlated with blood leptin, high-sensitivity CRP, C-peptide index, and triglyceride-glucose index. Furthermore, delta-5-desaturase (D5D), the AA (product)/DGLA (precursor) ratio calculated from the product-to-precursor ratio of fatty acids, was significantly lower in the NAFLD group. These findings suggest that high serum DGLA levels in NAFLD group may be due to an excessive intake of n-6 PUFAs and changes in desaturase in the human body. High serum DGLA levels may also be associated with insulin resistance and inflammatory factors.
期刊介绍:
Diabetology International, the official journal of the Japan Diabetes Society, publishes original research articles about experimental research and clinical studies in diabetes and related areas. The journal also presents editorials, reviews, commentaries, reports of expert committees, and case reports on any aspect of diabetes. Diabetology International welcomes submissions from researchers, clinicians, and health professionals throughout the world who are interested in research, treatment, and care of patients with diabetes. All manuscripts are peer-reviewed to assure that high-quality information in the field of diabetes is made available to readers. Manuscripts are reviewed with due respect for the author''s confidentiality. At the same time, reviewers also have rights to confidentiality, which are respected by the editors. The journal follows a single-blind review procedure, where the reviewers are aware of the names and affiliations of the authors, but the reviewer reports provided to authors are anonymous. Single-blind peer review is the traditional model of peer review that many reviewers are comfortable with, and it facilitates a dispassionate critique of a manuscript.