Research Article Details
Article ID: | A20733 |
PMID: | 25771388 |
Source: | J Pediatr |
Title: | Omega-3 Fatty acids therapy in children with nonalcoholic Fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled trial. |
Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). STUDY DESIGN: Overweight/obese children with NAFLD (n = 76; median age, 13 years; IQR, 11.1-15.2 years) were eligible to participate in the study. The diagnosis of NAFLD was based on elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) to ≥ 30% of the upper limit of normal (ULN) and liver hyperechogenicity on ultrasound. Patients were randomized to receive omega-3 fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, 450-1300 mg/day) or placebo (omega-6 sunflower oil). The primary outcome was the number of patients who demonstrated decreased ALT activity by ≥ 0.3 times the ULN. Secondary outcomes included alterations in liver function tests, liver hyperechogenicity, insulin resistance, and other metabolic markers after 6 months of intervention. RESULTS: Out of 76 enrolled patients, 64 completed the trial and were analyzed. After 6 months, we found no significant differences between the omega-3 and placebo groups in the number of patients with decreased ALT by ≥ 0.3 times the ULN (24 vs 23) or in median (IQR) ALT activity (48.5 [31-62] U/L vs 39 [27-55] U/L), liver hyperechogenicity, insulin resistance, or serum lipid levels. However, patients in the omega-3 group had lower levels of aspartate aminotransferase (28 [25-36] U/L vs 39 [27-55] U/L; P = .04) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (26 [17.5-36.5] U/L vs 35 [22-52] U/L; P = .04), and significantly higher levels of adiponectin. CONCLUSION: Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation did not increase the number of patients with decreased ALT levels and it did not affect liver steatosis on ultrasound, but it improved aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels in children with NAFLD compared with placebo. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01547910. |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.01.056 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
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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 |
Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name |
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Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
I14 | 9970 | Obesity | An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D545 | Pig placenta extract | Biological extract | -- | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D258 | Omega 3 PUFA | Chemical drug | DB11133 | PPARG ligand; PPARA activator | Hypolipidemic drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D199 | L-alanine | Chemical drug | DB00160 | KYNU | -- | Failed in clinical trials | Details |
D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
D105 | DHA | Chemical drug | DB03756 | PPARA ligand; PPARG ligand | Anti-inflammatory | Under clinical trials | Details |
D527 | EPA/DHA | Supplement | DB11133 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D080 | Citrulline | Chemical drug | DB00155 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D316 | S-adenosyl-L-methionine | Chemical drug | DB00118 | GNMT cofactor | Antiviral | Under clinical trials | Details |
D125 | Epanova | Chemical drug | DB11133 | PPARG ligand; PPARA activator | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under clinical trials | Details |