Research Article Details
Article ID: | A09393 |
PMID: | 31762148 |
Source: | Liver Int |
Title: | Dietary fatty acid oxidation is decreased in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A palmitate breath test study. |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND & AIM: Hepatic fat excess in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) reflects an imbalance between fat accumulation and disposal. Conflicting data exist for the role of fatty acid oxidation (FAO), one of the disposal pathways, and have mostly come from the studies delivering fatty acids (FAs) intravenously. Whether FAO of orally provided FAs is affected in NAFLD is unknown. METHODS: We performed a breath test study to measure FAO in subjects with NAFLD and healthy controls. Subjects ingested [1-13 C] palmitic acid (PA, 10 mg/kg) in a liquid meal and the rate of 13 CO2 appearance in expired air was measured over 6 hours by a BreathID device (Exalenz) to obtain the cumulative percent dose recovered (CPDR), the total amount of ingested 13 C recovered. CPDR was corrected by the results of a [1-13 C] acetate breath test, performed 1-4 weeks later, to calculate the rate of PA β-oxidation. RESULTS: Palmitic acid oxidation was 27% lower in 43 subjects with NAFLD compared to 11 controls (CPDR 9.5 ± 2.4% vs 13.1 ± 3.7%, P = .0001) and this persisted after correcting for acetate (29.3 ± 10.5 vs 36.6 ± 13.9, P = .03). The decrease in FAO was not because of the delayed transit as the time to peak 13 C detection did not differ between groups (4.9 ± 1.2 hours vs 4.7 ± 0.8 hours, P = .7). Rates of PA oxidation were not correlated with obesity, hepatic or adipose insulin resistance, alanine aminotransferase, liver fat content and NAFLD histology. CONCLUSION: Fatty acid oxidation of orally delivered FA is decreased in NAFLD compared to healthy controls, likely reflecting decreased β-oxidation. The use of a breath test offers non-invasive dynamic assessment of FAO. |
DOI: | 10.1111/liv.14309 |

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 |
S02 | Enhance lipid metabolism | triglyceride-lowering; lipid tolerance; lipid metabolism | 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) inhibitor; Decreases intestinal cholesterol absorption; FXR agonist; ACC inhibitor; FAS inhibitor; DGAT2 inhibitor; SCD-1 inhibitor | Atorvastatin; Ezetimibe; Obeticholic Acid; GS-9674; GS-0976; TVB-2640; IONIS-DGAT2rx; Aramchol; | Details |
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 |
D199 | L-alanine | Chemical drug | DB00160 | KYNU | -- | Failed in clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D094 | Cysteamine | Chemical drug | DB00847 | GSS stimulant | Renal drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D095 | Cysteamine bitartrate | Chemical drug | DB00847 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |