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Omega-3 fatty acids improve AST, GGTP in children with NAFLD

Obese children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease treated with omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, had reduced aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels compared with children treated with placebo, according to data published in The Journal of Pediatrics.

Researchers randomly assigned 76 obese or overweight children to receive between 450 and 1,300 mg per day of docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids or omega-6 sunflower oil, which served as placebo, for 24 weeks. The primary goal of the trial was to determine the number of patients with decreased alanine aminotransferase levels at least 0.3 times the upper limit of normal post-treatment. Secondary goals included alterations in liver function tests, liver hyperechogenicity, insulin resistance and other metabolic markers after 6 months of intervention, according to the research. The median age of the patients was 13 years and a total of 64 children completed the trial and were included in the final analyses.

After 6 months of follow-up, researchers did not find significant differences in the number of patients with decreased ALT between children who received omega-3 fatty acids or placebo (24 vs. 23). Also, median ALT activity (48.5 vs. 39 U/L), liver hyperechogenicity, insulin resistance and serum lipid levels were similar between the two groups.

Patients treated with omega-3 acids showed lower levels of AST compared with patients who received placebo (28 vs. 39 U/L; P = .04) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase compared with placebo (26 vs. 35 U/L; P = .04). Patients treated with the fatty acids also showed higher levels of adiponectin compared with placebo patients.

The omega-3 supplementation was well tolerated and safe among the patients, with only one patient from the fatty acids group and one in the placebo group experiencing abdominal discomfort.

“The negative results regarding the primary outcomes in our study do not allow us to formulate recommendations regarding the use of omega-3 [long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acid] supplements to treat NAFLD in children,” the researchers concluded. “Omega-3 fatty acids may be considered useful in patients with NAFLD to prevent other complications, such as cardiovascular disease, but this application awaits confirmation in further studies.” – by Melinda Stevens

Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.