Nutritional and lipidomics biomarkers of docosahexaenoic acid-based multivitamin therapy in pediatric NASH

Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 14;9(1):2045. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-37209-y.

Abstract

Two recent randomized controlled trials demonstrated improved radiographic, histological and hepatometabolic cues of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in pediatric patients treated with the ω-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in combination with vitamin D (VD) or with choline (CHO) and vitamin E (VE), the DHA-VD and DHA-CHO-VE trials, respectively). In the present study we verified the nutritional compliance to these DHA-based multivitamin treatments; lipidomics biomarkers of the reported outcome on NASH indicators were also investigated. Samples were obtained from 30 biopsy-proven pediatric NASH patients of the DHA-CHO-VE trial randomized in multivitamin treatment group and placebo group (n = 15 each), and from 12 patients of the treatment group of the DHA-VD trial. All patients underwent 6-month therapy plus 6 months of follow-up. Plasma samples and clinical data were obtained at baseline and at the end of the study (12 months). Selected biomarkers included the free form of DHA and other ω-3 fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA), indices of the vitamin E status, and some hepatic metabolites of these lipids. Radiographic and histological improvements of treated patients were associated with increased concentrations of DHA, α-linolenic acid and α-tocopherol (i.e. VE), and with decreased AA that was also investigated in complex lipids by untargetd lipidomics. As a result a significantly lowered AA/DHA ratio was observed to represent the main indicator of the response to the DHA-based therapy. Furthermore, baseline levels of AA/DHA showed strong association with NAS and US improvement. A stable correction of DHA AA metabolism interaction is associated with the curative effect of this therapy and may represent a key nutritional endpoint in the clinical management of pediatric NASH.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Arachidonic Acid / metabolism
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Child
  • Choline / metabolism
  • Choline / therapeutic use
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / administration & dosage
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / metabolism*
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / blood
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Lipidomics / methods
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / diet therapy*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / metabolism
  • Vitamin D / metabolism
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin E / metabolism
  • Vitamin E / therapeutic use
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use*
  • alpha-Linolenic Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Vitamins
  • alpha-Linolenic Acid
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Arachidonic Acid
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid
  • Choline