Research Article Details
| Article ID: | A02042 |
| PMID: | 34522493 |
| Source: | Cureus |
| Title: | The Role of Vitamins in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review. |
| Abstract: | Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) emerged as the most prevalent liver disorder contributing significantly to disease burden worldwide. It manifests as a broad spectrum of hepatic damage with varying severity ranging from less serious steatosis to a more severe Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), with or without fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Vitamins, on the other hand, are micronutrients that are vital for healthy well-being. Some studies have linked liver diseases with hypovitaminosis; however, there are still some gaps about the basis of their correlation. Hence, this systematic review aims to discuss the role of vitamins in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and explore their hepatoprotective potential that may benefit clinicians in managing this condition. This systematic review searched for studies indexed in the PubMed, PubMed Central, Medline, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect databases. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, duplicates were removed, and meticulous screening of articles was done systematically. Out of 729 unique studies generated using the search strategy, 17 were finally included after thorough review and quality appraisal.  NAFLD is not simply an outcome of insulin resistance and metabolic derangements; instead, it is a disease with complex underlying pathogenesis. Moreover, vitamin deficiency has been associated with NAFLD development and increased susceptibility to more severe liver damage. Derangement in vitamins correlates to the lipotoxic hepatic environment, altered immune system, unwarranted inflammation, oxidative stress, gene mutations, epigenetic modification, and gut dysbiosis seen in NAFLD. As they influence several pathophysiologic processes in the liver, vitamins A, B3, B6, B9, B12, C, D, and E are promising potential options that can impact NAFLD management. However, more well-designed studies conducted in the human population are still necessary to establish their efficacy and safety as therapeutic agents. |
| DOI: | 10.7759/cureus.16855 |
| Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
| S03 | Anti-fibrosis | fibrosis | Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant | Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 | Details |
| S04 | Anti-oxidative stress | oxidative stress | α-tocopherol: antioxidant | Vitamin E | Details |
| Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name |
|---|
| Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I02 | 5113 | Nutritional deficiency disease | A nutrition disease that is characterized by deficiency of a nutritional element, such as a vitamin, mineral, carbohydrate, protein, fat, or general energy content. https://medlineplus.gov/malnutrition.html | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/nutrition disease | Details |
| I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
| Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D386 | Vitamin C | Supplement | DB00126 | PLOD2 cofactor; PLOD3 cofactor; DBH cofactor; P3H1 cofactor; P3H2 cofactor; P3H3 cofactor; PLOD1 cofactor | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
| D387 | Vitamin D | Supplement | DB11094 | -- | Vitamin source drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
| D388 | Vitamin E | Supplement | DB00163 | NR1I2; ALOX5; DGKA | Anti-inflammatory | Under clinical trials | Details |
| D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
| D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |