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Mohammadian K, Fakhar F, Keramat S, Stanek A. The Role of Antioxidants in the Treatment of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:797. [PMID: 39061866 PMCID: PMC11273623 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13070797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global public health problem that causes liver-related morbidity and mortality. It is also an independent risk factor for non-communicable diseases. In 2020, a proposal was made to refer to it as "metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD)", with concise diagnostic criteria. Given its widespread occurrence, its treatment is crucial. Increased levels of oxidative stress cause this disease. This review aims to evaluate various studies on antioxidant therapies for patients with MAFLD. A comprehensive search for relevant research was conducted on the PubMed, SCOPUS, and ScienceDirect databases, resulting in the identification of 87 studies that met the inclusion criteria. In total, 31.1% of human studies used natural antioxidants, 53.3% used synthetic antioxidants, and 15.5% used both natural and synthetic antioxidants. In human-based studies, natural antioxidants showed 100% efficacy in the treatment of MAFLD, while synthetic antioxidants showed effective results in only 91% of the investigations. In animal-based research, natural antioxidants were fully effective in the treatment of MAFLD, while synthetic antioxidants demonstrated effectiveness in only 87.8% of the evaluations. In conclusion, antioxidants in their natural form are more helpful for patients with MAFLD, and preserving the correct balance of pro-oxidants and antioxidants is a useful way to monitor antioxidant treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiana Mohammadian
- Division of Hematology and Blood Banking, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348, Iran; (K.M.); (F.F.)
| | - Fatemeh Fakhar
- Division of Hematology and Blood Banking, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348, Iran; (K.M.); (F.F.)
| | - Shayan Keramat
- VAS-European Independent Foundation in Angiology/Vascular Medicine, Via GB Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy;
- Support Association of Patients of Buerger’s Disease, Buerger’s Disease NGO, Mashhad 9183785195, Iran
| | - Agata Stanek
- VAS-European Independent Foundation in Angiology/Vascular Medicine, Via GB Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy;
- Department and Clinic of Internal Medicine, Angiology, and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 41-902 Bytom, Poland
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Fu Y, Wang Z, Qin H. Examining the Pathogenesis of MAFLD and the Medicinal Properties of Natural Products from a Metabolic Perspective. Metabolites 2024; 14:218. [PMID: 38668346 PMCID: PMC11052500 DOI: 10.3390/metabo14040218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), characterized primarily by hepatic steatosis, has become the most prevalent liver disease worldwide, affecting approximately two-fifths of the global population. The pathogenesis of MAFLD is extremely complex, and to date, there are no approved therapeutic drugs for clinical use. Considerable evidence indicates that various metabolic disorders play a pivotal role in the progression of MAFLD, including lipids, carbohydrates, amino acids, and micronutrients. In recent years, the medicinal properties of natural products have attracted widespread attention, and numerous studies have reported their efficacy in ameliorating metabolic disorders and subsequently alleviating MAFLD. This review aims to summarize the metabolic-associated pathological mechanisms of MAFLD, as well as the natural products that regulate metabolic pathways to alleviate MAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hong Qin
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410006, China; (Y.F.); (Z.W.)
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Wu H, Guo JL, Yao JJ, Yu JJ, Xia RY, Huang WQ, Tang X, He GM. Serum vitamin C levels and risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: results from a cross-sectional study and Mendelian randomization analysis. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1162031. [PMID: 37252248 PMCID: PMC10213341 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1162031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aims Vitamin C, as an antioxidant, may play a role in the treatment of NAFLD. This research aimed to investigate the association of serum vitamin C levels with the risk of NAFLD and to further examine the causal relationship by Mendelian randomization (MR) method. Methods The cross-sectional study selected 5,578 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2005-2006 and 2017-2018. The association of serum vitamin C levels with NAFLD risk was evaluated under a multivariable logistic regression model. A two-sample MR study, using genetic data from large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of serum vitamin C levels (52,014 individuals) and NAFLD (primary analysis: 1,483 cases /17,781 controls; secondary analysis: 1,908 cases/340,591 controls), was conducted to infer causality between them. The inverse-variance-weighted (IVW) was applied as the main method of MR analysis. A series of sensitivity analyzes were used to evaluate the pleiotropy. Results In the cross-sectional study, results showed that Tertile 3 group (Tertile 3: ≥1.06 mg/dl) had a significantly lower risk (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.48 ~ 0.74, p < 0.001) of NAFLD than Tertile 1 group (Tertile 1: ≤0.69 mg/dl) after full adjustments. In regard to gender, serum vitamin C was protective against NAFLD in both women (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.49 ~ 0.80, p < 0.001) and men (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.55 ~ 0.97, p = 0.029) but was stronger among women. However, in the IVW of MR analyzes, no causal relationship between serum vitamin C levels and NAFLD risk was observed in the primary analysis (OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.47 ~ 1.45, p = 0.502) and secondary analysis (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.53 ~ 1.22, p = 0.308). MR sensitivity analyzes yielded consistent results. Conclusion Our MR study did not support a causal association between serum vitamin C levels and NAFLD risk. Further studies with greater cases are warranted to confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiang-Long Guo
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing-Jiong Yao
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Second Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia-Jun Yu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Second Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Run-Yu Xia
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei-Qing Huang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuan Tang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guang-Ming He
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Munteanu C, Schwartz B. The Effect of Bioactive Aliment Compounds and Micronutrients on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12040903. [PMID: 37107278 PMCID: PMC10136128 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12040903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the current review, we focused on identifying aliment compounds and micronutrients, as well as addressed promising bioactive nutrients that may interfere with NAFLD advance and ultimately affect this disease progress. In this regard, we targeted: 1. Potential bioactive nutrients that may interfere with NAFLD, specifically dark chocolate, cocoa butter, and peanut butter which may be involved in decreasing cholesterol concentrations. 2. The role of sweeteners used in coffee and other frequent beverages; in this sense, stevia has proven to be adequate for improving carbohydrate metabolism, liver steatosis, and liver fibrosis. 3. Additional compounds were shown to exert a beneficial action on NAFLD, namely glutathione, soy lecithin, silymarin, Aquamin, and cannabinoids which were shown to lower the serum concentration of triglycerides. 4. The effects of micronutrients, especially vitamins, on NAFLD. Even if most studies demonstrate the beneficial role of vitamins in this pathology, there are exceptions. 5. We provide information regarding the modulation of the activity of some enzymes related to NAFLD and their effect on this disease. We conclude that NAFLD can be prevented or improved by different factors through their involvement in the signaling, genetic, and biochemical pathways that underlie NAFLD. Therefore, exposing this vast knowledge to the public is particularly important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camelia Munteanu
- Department of Plant Culture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Betty Schwartz
- The Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The School of Nutritional Sciences, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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Abstract
Liver fibrosis has a high incidence worldwide and is the common pathological basis of many chronic liver diseases. Liver fibrosis is caused by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix and concomitant collagen accumulation in livers and can lead to the development of liver cirrhosis and even liver cancer. A large number of studies have provided evidence that liver fibrosis can be blocked or even reversed by appropriate medical interventions. However, the antifibrosis drugs with ideal clinical efficacy are still insufficient. The edible plant-derived natural compounds have been reported to exert effective antifibrotic effects with few side-effects, representing a kind of promising source for the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this article, we reviewed the current progress of the natural compounds derived from dietary plants in the treatment of liver fibrosis, including phenolic compounds (capsaicin, chlorogenic acid, curcumin, ellagic acid, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, resveratrol, sinapic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid and vitamin E), flavonoid compounds (genistein, hesperidin, hesperetin, naringenin, naringin and quercetin), sulfur-containing compounds (S-allylcysteine, ergothioneine, lipoic acid and sulforaphane) and other compounds (betaine, caffeine, cucurbitacin B, lycopene, α-mangostin, γ-mangostin, ursolic acid, vitamin C and yangonin). The pharmacological effects and related mechanisms of these compounds in in-vivo and in-vitro models of liver fibrosis are focused.
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Chen L, Fan Z, Sun X, Qiu W, Mu W, Chai K, Cao Y, Wang G, Lv G. Diet-derived antioxidants and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a Mendelian randomization study. Hepatol Int 2022; 17:326-338. [PMID: 36352064 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-022-10443-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Whether supplementation with diet-derived antioxidants is beneficial for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is still controversial and we hope to answer this question using population-based genetic data. METHODS A total of 8485 NAFLD cases and 658,849 healthy controls from four independent NAFLD genome-wide association studies were enrolled in this study. Genetic variants closely associated with the diet-derived antioxidants were selected to predict their circulating levels. A bi-directional Mendelian randomization (MR) design was employed to assess their causations. RESULTS Genetic correlation analyses suggested inverse associations between diet-derived antioxidants and NAFLD. MR analyses indicated that the odds ratio (OR) of per standard deviation increase in genetically predicted toenail and blood selenium was 1.179 for NAFLD (95% confidence interval [1.083-1.284]). Also, the genetically elevated selenium level was causally associated with increased levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, alkaline phosphatase and glycated hemoglobin. The OR of 1 µg/dL increase in genetically predicted serum lycopene was 1.082 (95%CI [1.051-1.113]). No other causal associations were found for NAFLD. However, we observed protective effects of genetically predicted β-carotene (OR = 0.929[0.911-0.947]) and retinol (OR = 0.483[0.460-0.508]) on type 2 diabetes (T2D), and further they could reduce the serum levels of blood lipids and glucose. Reverse MR analysis suggested genetically predicated NAFLD status would not affect the levels of diet-derived antioxidants. CONCLUSION Overall, we observed the positive associations of genetically predicted selenium and lycopene with NAFLD. However, the genetically predicted β-carotene and retinol levels were inversely associated with the risk of T2D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanlan Chen
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, No.1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Zhongqi Fan
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, No.1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Xiaodong Sun
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, No.1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Wei Qiu
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, No.1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Wentao Mu
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, No.1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Kaiyuan Chai
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, No.1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Yannan Cao
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, No.1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Guangyi Wang
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, No.1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Guoyue Lv
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, No.1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
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Ascorbate Is a Primary Antioxidant in Mammals. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27196187. [PMID: 36234722 PMCID: PMC9572970 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ascorbate (vitamin C in primates) functions as a cofactor for a number of enzymatic reactions represented by prolyl hydroxylases and as an antioxidant due to its ability to donate electrons, which is mostly accomplished through non-enzymatic reaction in mammals. Ascorbate directly reacts with radical species and is converted to ascorbyl radical followed by dehydroascorbate. Ambiguities in physiological relevance of ascorbate observed during in vivo situations could be attributed in part to presence of other redox systems and the pro-oxidant properties of ascorbate. Most mammals are able to synthesize ascorbate from glucose, which is also considered to be an obstacle to verify its action. In addition to animals with natural deficiency in the ascorbate synthesis, such as guinea pigs and ODS rats, three strains of mice with genetic removal of the responsive genes (GULO, RGN, or AKR1A) for the ascorbate synthesis have been established and are being used to investigate the physiological roles of ascorbate. Studies using these mice, along with ascorbate transporter (SVCT)-deficient mice, largely support its ability in protection against oxidative insults. While combined actions of ascorbate in regulating epigenetics and antioxidation appear to effectively prevent cancer development, pharmacological doses of ascorbate and dehydroascorbate may exert tumoricidal activity through redox-dependent mechanisms.
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Hu Z, Li Y, Ma B, Lei S, Wang X. Iron metabolism mediates the relationship between Vitamin C and hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in NAFLD. Front Nutr 2022; 9:952056. [PMID: 36159474 PMCID: PMC9494736 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.952056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin C (Vit C) and iron metabolism are closely related to metabolic disorders. However, the relation between iron storage protein ferritin and Vit C has not been elucidated. We aimed to investigate the crosstalk between Vit C and ferritin and its implications on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Clinical information of 3,614 subjects was obtained from the NHANES Public Data 2017–2018. FibroScan data, which estimates liver steatosis and fibrosis and Vit C, were selected to assess factors influencing NAFLD in this cross-sectional study. Ferritin and Vit C among different categories of liver steatosis and fibrosis were assessed by CAP and E value. Logistic regression and RCS models were used to analyze the correlations. In vitro study in hepG2 were conducted to validate the regulations. Ferritin increased while Vit C decreased with more severe hepatic steatosis and hepatic fibrosis (all P < 0.001). Logistic regression models indicated that increased serum ferritin was a risk factor for NAFLD while increased Vit C was a protective factor for NAFLD and hepatic fibrosis after adjusting the continuous and categorical variables. Vitamin C was negatively associated with ferritin. Further mediation analysis identified that ferritin mediates the impact of Vit C on NAFLD (P < 0.05) and cirrhosis (P < 0.001). The experiments on cellular level suggested Vit C alleviated PA/OA induced steatosis and maintains iron homeostasis through inhibiting PA/OA induced upregulation of iron bound protein ferritin and labile iron pool (LIP) induction in hepG2 cells. In conclusion, Vit C was a protective factor, whereas ferritin was a risk factor for hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. Vitamin C alleviated NAFLD and maintained iron homeostasis via ferritin suppression and LIP induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyu Hu
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bingwei Ma
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Saifei Lei
- Center for Pharmacogenetics, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Xingchun Wang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Xingchun Wang
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Thompson MA, Zuniga K, Sousse L, Christy R, Gurney J. The Role of Vitamin E in Thermal Burn Injuries, Infection, and Sepsis: A Review. J Burn Care Res 2022; 43:1260-1270. [PMID: 35863690 PMCID: PMC9629418 DOI: 10.1093/jbcr/irac100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Thermal burn injuries are still a serious public health concern in the United States, due to the initial insult and resulting comorbidities. Burned patients are increasingly susceptible to colonization by endogenous and exogenous microorganisms after having lost skin, which acts as the primary protective barrier to environmental contaminants. Furthermore, the onset of additional pathophysiologies, specifically sepsis, becomes more likely in burned patients compared to other injuries. Despite improvements in the early care of burn patients, infections, and sepsis, these pathophysiologies remain major causes of morbidity and mortality and warrant further investigation of potential therapies. Vitamin E may be one such therapy. We aimed to identify publications of studies that evaluated the effectiveness of vitamin E as it pertains to thermal burn injuries, infection, and sepsis. Several investigations ranging from in vitro bench work to clinical studies have examined the impact on, or influence of, vitamin E in vitro, in vivo, and in the clinical setting. To the benefit of subjects it has been shown that enteral or parenteral vitamin E supplementation can prevent, mitigate, and even reverse the effects of thermal burn injuries, infection, and sepsis. Therefore, a large-scale prospective observational study to assess the potential benefits of vitamin E supplementation in patients is warranted and could result in clinical care practice paradigm changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc A Thompson
- US Army Institute of Surgical Research, JBSA Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX
| | - Kameel Zuniga
- US Army Institute of Surgical Research, JBSA Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX
| | - Linda Sousse
- US Army Institute of Surgical Research, JBSA Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX
| | - Robert Christy
- US Army Institute of Surgical Research, JBSA Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX
| | - Jennifer Gurney
- Burn Center, United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, JBSA Ft. Sam Houston, TX, USA
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A Molecular Insight into the Role of Antioxidants in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:9233650. [PMID: 35602098 PMCID: PMC9117022 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9233650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) defines fat accumulation in the liver, and it is commonly associated with metabolic syndromes like diabetes and obesity. Progressive NAFLD leads to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and ultimately causes cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and NASH is currently a frequent cause of liver transplantation. Oxidative stress is often contributed to the progression of NAFLD, and hence, antioxidants such as silymarin, silybin, or silibinin, pentoxifylline, resveratrol, and vitamins A, C, and E are used in clinical trials against NAFLD. Silymarin induces the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), a fatty acid sensor, which promotes the transcription of genes that are required for the enzymes involved in lipid oxidation in hepatocytes. Silybin inhibits sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 and carbohydrate response element-binding protein to downregulate the expression of genes responsible for de novo lipogenesis by activating AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation. Pentoxifylline inhibits TNF-α expression and endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated inflammatory nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation. Thus, it prevents NAFLD to NASH progression. Resveratrol inhibits methylation at Nrf-2 promoters and NF-κB activity via SIRT1 activation in NAFLD conditions. However, clinically, resveratrol has not shown promising beneficial effects. Vitamin C is beneficial in NAFLD patients. Vitamin E is not effectively regressing hepatic fibrosis. Hence, its combination with antifibrotic agents is used as an adjuvant to produce a synergistic antifibrotic effect. However, to date, none of these antioxidants have been used as a definite therapeutic agent in NAFLD patients. Further, these antioxidants should be studied in NAFLD patients with larger populations and multiple endpoints in the future.
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Xie ZQ, Li HX, Tan WL, Yang L, Ma XW, Li WX, Wang QB, Shang CZ, Chen YJ. Association of Serum Vitamin C With NAFLD and MAFLD Among Adults in the United States. Front Nutr 2022; 8:795391. [PMID: 35187020 PMCID: PMC8854786 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.795391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Despite the remarkable progress of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), formerly named non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the disease remains poorly improved. Since increased oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to the initiation and progression of fatty liver disorders, vitamin C (VC), an antioxidant agent, might be a suitable treatment option for MAFLD. However, the lack of clinically confirmed benefits makes clinicians challenging to recommend antioxidant supplements for MAFLD individuals. Methods Herein, the nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–2018 data were collected to evaluate the potential association between the serum VC levels with the risk of different categories of NALFD and the newly proposed MAFLD terminology. Hepatic steatosis was defined as controlled attenuated parameter scores ≥ 263 dB/m, whereas liver fibrosis (LF) status was defined as F0–F4, with the cutoff values of median liver stiffness being 6.3, 8.3, 10.5, and 12.5 (KPa), respectively. A cross-sectional analysis was performed to calculate the odds rate and determine the potential beneficial effects of VC. Results A total of 4,494 participants aged more than 18 years and conducted transient elastography examinations were included. Our findings demonstrated that participants with increased serum VC status were more likely to be female predominant, more educated, and moderate drinkers. Interestingly, female participants tended to have a lower prevalence of NAFLD, MAFLD, LF, and liver cirrhosis (LC) after stratification by gender. Moreover, our results revealed that participants from the quartile three group (quartile 3: 50.5–67.0 μmol/L) experienced a slightly lower risk of MAFLD than the risk of NAFLD. Of note, the serum concentration of VC (quartile 2: 30.9–50.5 μmol/L) inversely associated with LF and LC was lower than the serum VC level (quartile 3) associated with NAFLD and MAFLD. Notably, individuals from the quartile 3 group experienced a statistically significant 32.5, 42.0, 45.7, and 71% decrease in risk of NAFLD, MAFLD, LF, and LC, respectively. Conclusion In summary, our findings suggested an inverse association between serum VC levels and NAFLD, MAFLD, LF, or LC. Additionally, adjustment of VC supplementation according to age, gender, and ethnicity may be a promising candidate for these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Qin Xie
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hong-Xia Li
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen-Liang Tan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Wu Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen-Xin Li
- Department of Cardiology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qing-Bin Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chang-Zhen Shang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Chang-Zhen Shang
| | - Ya-Jin Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Ya-Jin Chen
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Vitamin C Deficiency May Delay Diet-Induced NASH Regression in the Guinea Pig. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 11:antiox11010069. [PMID: 35052573 PMCID: PMC8772888 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress is directly linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the progression to steaotohepatitis (NASH). Thus, a beneficial role of antioxidants in delaying disease progression and/or accelerating recovery may be expected, as corroborated by recommendations of, e.g., vitamin E supplementation to patients. This study investigated the effect of vitamin C deficiency—often resulting from poor diets low in fruits and vegetables and high in fat—combined with/without a change to a low fat diet on NAFLD/NASH phenotype and hepatic transcriptome in the guinea pig NASH model. Vitamin C deficiency per se did not accelerate disease induction. However, the results showed an effect of the diet change on the resolution of hepatic histopathological hallmarks (steatosis, inflammation, and ballooning) (p < 0.05 or less) and indicated a positive effect of a high vitamin C intake when combined with a low fat diet. Our data show that a diet change is important in NASH regression and suggest that a poor vitamin C status delays the reversion towards a healthy hepatic transcriptome and phenotype. In conclusion, the findings support a beneficial role of adequate vitamin C intake in the regression of NASH and may indicate that vitamin C supplementation in addition to lifestyle modifications could accelerate recovery in NASH patients with poor vitamin C status.
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Baek SM, Lee SW, Lee YJ, Kim HY, Seo MS, Sung SE, Lee AR, Kim TU, Choi SK, Park SJ, Kim TH, Jeong KS, Park JK. Vitamin C alleviates alcoholic liver injury by suppressing neutrophil infiltration in senescence marker protein 30-knockout mice irrespective of its antioxidant effects. Life Sci 2021; 297:120228. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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