Noninvasive assessment of hepatic lipid composition: Advancing understanding and management of fatty liver disorders
Open Access
- 21 January 2008
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Hepatology
- Vol. 47 (5), 1513-1523
- https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.22220
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver is frequently observed in obese individuals, yet the factors that predict its development and progression to liver disease are poorly understood. We proposed that proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) might allow noninvasive assessment of hepatic lipid composition. Lipid saturation (SI) and polyunsaturation (PUI) indices measured by 1H-MRS were in agreement with those expected in oils of known composition. Hepatic triglyceride concentration (HTGC) and composition were then measured in healthy lean (LEAN) men, obese men with normal HTGC (OB), and obese men with hepatic steatosis (OB+HS). The effect of marked changes in dietary fat consumption on hepatic lipids were also compared in lean men after 67 hours of a normal mixed (NM) diet versus a low-carbohydrate, high-saturated-fat (LCHF) diet. SI was significantly higher in OB+HS (0.970 ± 0.004) and OB (0.944 ± 0.008) versus LEAN (0.818 ± 0.025) (P < 0.01 for both). PUI was significantly lower in OB+HS (0.003 ± 0.001) and OB (0.022 ± 0.005) versus LEAN (0.120 ± 0.021) (P < 0.01), and significantly lower in OB+HS versus OB (P < 0.05). LCHF diet did not alter HTGC, SI, or PUI (P > 0.05). The 1H-MRS method provides for rapid, qualitative assessment of lipid composition. Application of this technique in the liver produces results that are consistent with biopsy-based approaches demonstrating that relative hepatic lipid saturation increases and polyunsaturation decreases with obesity. Obesity-related hepatic steatosis is characterized by further depletion of polyunsaturated hepatic lipids. Conclusion: This readily available and noninvasive approach should promote further study into interactions between hepatic and whole-body lipid metabolism and help to elucidate the pathogenesis of disorders characterized by lipid accumulation within the liver. (HEPATOLOGY 2008.)Keywords
Funding Information
- Massey University Research Fund (06/5062)
- Southern Adelaide Health Service
- University of Sydney Faculty Financial Support Fund (S0717 0000)
- Robert W. Storr bequest to the University of Sydney and a program grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (358398)
This publication has 37 references indexed in Scilit:
- A lipidomic analysis of nonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseHepatology, 2007
- Investigation of muscle lipid metabolism by localized one‐ and two‐dimensional MRS techniques using a clinical 3T MRI/MRS scannerJournal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 2006
- Short‐term suppression of plasma free fatty acids fails to improve insulin sensitivity when intramyocellular lipid is elevatedDiabetic Medicine, 2006
- Polymers from triglyceride oilsProgress in Polymer Science, 2006
- Energy well spent fighting the diabetes epidemicDiabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 2005
- Decreases in free cholesterol and fatty acid unsaturation in renal cell carcinoma demonstrated by breath-hold magnetic resonance spectroscopyAmerican Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 2005
- Effects of dietaryn-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, breed and dietary vitamin E on the fatty acids of lamb muscle, liver and adipose tissueBritish Journal of Nutrition, 2004
- Glycerol Residue - A Rich Source of Glycerol and Medium Chain Fatty AcidsJournal of Oleo Science, 2004
- Rapid simultaneous determination by proton NMR of unsaturation and composition of acyl groups in vegetable oilsEuropean Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 2003
- Edible oils: discrimination by 1H nuclear magnetic resonanceJournal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2003