Choline intake in a large cohort of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Apr;95(4):892-900. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.020156. Epub 2012 Feb 15.

Abstract

Background: There is significant histologic and biochemical overlap between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis associated with choline deficiency.

Objective: We sought to determine whether subjects with biopsy-proven NAFLD and evidence of an inadequate intake of choline had more severe histologic features.

Design: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 664 subjects enrolled in the multicenter, prospective Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network (NASH CRN) with baseline data on diet composition (from a recall-based food-frequency questionnaire) within 6 mo of a liver biopsy. Food questionnaires were analyzed with proprietary software to estimate daily intakes of choline. Liver biopsies were centrally read, and consensus was scored with the NASH CRN-developed scoring system. Because choline needs vary by age, sex, and menopausal status, participants were segregated into corresponding categories (children 9-13 y old, males ≥14 y old, premenopausal women ≥19 y old, and postmenopausal women) on the basis of the Institute of Medicine's definition of adequate intake (AI) for choline. Deficient intake was defined as <50% AI.

Results: Postmenopausal women with deficient choline intake had worse fibrosis (P = 0.002) once factors associated with NAFLD (age, race-ethnicity, obesity, elevated triglycerides, diabetes, alcohol use, and steroid use) were considered in multiple ordinal logistic regression models. Choline intake was not identified as a contributor to disease severity in children, men, or premenopausal women.

Conclusion: Decreased choline intake is significantly associated with increased fibrosis in postmenopausal women with NAFLD. The Pioglitazone vs Vitamin E vs Placebo for Treatment of Non-Diabetic Patients With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00063622, and the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00063635.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aging*
  • Biopsy
  • Child
  • Choline / administration & dosage*
  • Choline Deficiency / physiopathology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diet / adverse effects*
  • Fatty Liver / etiology*
  • Fatty Liver / pathology
  • Female
  • Fibrosis
  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Postmenopause
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Choline

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00063622
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00063635