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Abstract Details
Dietary intake of specific amino acids and liver status in subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: fatty liver in obesity (FLiO) study
Cristina Galarregui1, Irene Cantero1, Bertha Araceli Marin-Alejandre1, J Ignacio Monreal23, Mariana Elorz24, Alberto Benito-Boillos24, José Ignacio Herrero256, Víctor de la O27, Miguel Ruiz-Canela278, Helen Hermana M Hermsdorff9, Josefina Bressan9, Josep A Tur810, J Alfredo Martínez128, M Angeles Zulet#111213, Itziar Abete#141516
Author information
1Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology and Centre for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
2Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
3Clinical Chemistry Department, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
4Department of Radiology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
5Liver Unit, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
6Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029, Madrid, Spain.
7Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
8Biomedical Research Centre Network in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
9Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, 36570-900, Brazil.
10Research Group On Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress, University of Balearic Islands and Balearic Islands Institute for Health Research (IDISBA), 07122, Palma, Spain.
11Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology and Centre for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
12Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
13Biomedical Research Centre Network in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
14Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology and Centre for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
15Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
16Biomedical Research Centre Network in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
#Contributed equally.
Abstract
Purpose: Identification of dietary factors involved in the development and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is relevant to the current epidemics of the disease. Dietary amino acids appear to play a key role in the onset and progression of NAFLD. The aim of this study was to analyze potential associations between specific dietary amino acids and variables related to glucose metabolism and hepatic status in adults with overweight/obesity and NAFLD.
Methods: One hundred and twelve individuals from the Fatty Liver in Obesity (FLiO) study were evaluated. Liver assessment was carried out by ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging and analysis of biochemical parameters. Dietary amino acid intake (aromatic amino acids (AAA); branched-chain amino acids (BCAA); sulfur amino acids (SAA)) was estimated by means of a validated 137-item food frequency questionnaire.
Results: Higher consumption of these amino acids was associated with worse hepatic health. Multiple adjusted regression models confirmed that dietary AAA, BCAA and SAA were positively associated with liver fat content. AAA and BCAA were positively associated with liver iron concentration. Regarding ferritin levels, a positive association was found with BCAA. Dietary intake of these amino acids was positively correlated with glucose metabolism (glycated hemoglobin, triglyceride and glucose index) although the significance disappeared when potential confounders were included in the model.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that the consumption of specific dietary amino acids might negatively impact on liver status and, to a lesser extent on glucose metabolism in subjects with overweight/obesity and NAFLD. A control of specific dietary amino acid composition should be considered in the management of NAFLD and associated insulin resistance. NCT03183193; June 2017.