A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on hepatic fat and associated cardiovascular risk factors in overweight children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2015 Aug;25(8):734-41. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2015.04.003. Epub 2015 Apr 25.

Abstract

Background and aims: Very little information is available on whether docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation has a beneficial effect on liver fat and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial we investigated whether 6-month treatment with DHA improves hepatic fat and other fat depots, and their associated CVD risk factors in children with biopsy-proven NAFLD.

Methods and results: Of 58 randomized children, 51 (25 DHA, 26 placebo) completed the study. The main outcome was the change in hepatic fat fraction as estimated by magnetic resonance imaging. Secondary outcomes were changes in visceral adipose tissue (VAT), epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), and left ventricular (LV) function, as well as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglycerides, body mass index-standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), and insulin sensitivity. At 6 months, the liver fat was reduced by 53.4% (95% CI, 33.4-73.4) in the DHA group, as compared with 22.6% (6.2-39.0) in the placebo group (P = 0.040 for the comparison between the two groups). Likewise, in the DHA group VAT and EAT were reduced by 7.8% (0-18.3) and 14.2% (0-28.2%), as compared with 2.2% (0-8.1) and 1.7% (0-6.8%) in the placebo group, respectively (P = 0.01 for both comparisons). There were no significant between-group changes for LV function as well as BMI-SDS and ALT, while fasting insulin and triglycerides significantly decreased in the DHA-treated children (P = 0.028 and P = 0.041, respectively).

Conclusions: DHA supplementation decreases liver and visceral fat, and ameliorates metabolic abnormalities in children with NAFLD.

Keywords: Cardiac function; Children; Docosahexaenoic acid; Epicardial adipose tissue; Liver fat; NAFLD; Visceral adipose tissue.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / drug effects*
  • Adolescent
  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Biopsy
  • Body Mass Index
  • Child
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / administration & dosage
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Fasting / blood
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Intra-Abdominal Fat / drug effects
  • Intra-Abdominal Fat / pathology
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / blood
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / diet therapy*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / pathology
  • Overweight / blood
  • Overweight / diet therapy*
  • Overweight / pathology
  • Pericardium / drug effects
  • Pericardium / pathology
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • Ventricular Function, Left / drug effects

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Insulin
  • Triglycerides
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Alanine Transaminase