Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology and Centre for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Centre for Nutrition Research, University of Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
J Physiol Biochem. 2024 Aug;80(3):639-653. doi: 10.1007/s13105-023-00998-6. Epub 2023 Nov 24.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent form of chronic liver disease in the world. New non-invasive diagnostic tools are needed to promptly treat this disease and avoid its complications. This study aimed to find key metabolites and related variables that could be used to predict and diagnose NAFLD. Ninety-eight subjects with NAFLD and 45 controls from the Fatty Liver in Obesity (FLiO) Study (NCT03183193) were analyzed. NAFLD was diagnosed and graded by ultrasound and classified into two groups: 0 (controls) and ≥ 1 (NAFLD). Hepatic status was additionally assessed through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), elastography, and determination of transaminases. Anthropometry, body composition (DXA), biochemical parameters, and lifestyle factors were evaluated as well. Non-targeted metabolomics of serum was performed with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-TOF-MS). Isoliquiritigenin (ISO) had the strongest association with NAFLD out of the determinant metabolites. Individuals with higher concentrations of ISO had healthier metabolic and hepatic status and were less likely to have NAFLD (OR 0.13). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated the predictive power of ISO in panel combination with other NAFLD and IR-related variables, such as visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (AUROC 0.972), adiponectin (AUROC 0.917), plasmatic glucose (AUROC 0.817), and CK18-M30 (AUROC 0.810). Individuals with lower levels of ISO have from 71 to 82% more risk of presenting NAFLD compared to individuals with higher levels. Metabolites such as ISO, in combination with visceral adipose tissue, IR, and related markers, constitute a potential non-invasive tool to predict and diagnose NAFLD.
非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）是世界上最常见的慢性肝病。需要新的非侵入性诊断工具来及时治疗这种疾病并避免其并发症。本研究旨在寻找可用于预测和诊断 NAFLD 的关键代谢物和相关变量。对来自肥胖中的脂肪肝研究（NCT03183193）的 98 例 NAFLD 患者和 45 例对照进行了分析。通过超声诊断和分级 NAFLD，并将其分为两组：0（对照）和≥1（NAFLD）。通过磁共振成像（MRI）、弹性成像和转氨酶测定进一步评估肝脏状态。还评估了人体测量学、身体成分（DXA）、生化参数和生活方式因素。采用高效液相色谱-飞行时间质谱联用（HPLC-TOF-MS）对血清进行非靶向代谢组学分析。异甘草素（ISO）是与 NAFLD 相关性最强的决定代谢物。ISO 浓度较高的个体具有更健康的代谢和肝脏状态，并且不太可能患有 NAFLD（OR 0.13）。受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线表明 ISO 与其他 NAFLD 和 IR 相关变量（如内脏脂肪组织（VAT）（AUROC 0.972）、脂联素（AUROC 0.917）、血浆葡萄糖（AUROC 0.817）和 CK18-M30（AUROC 0.810））联合在面板中的预测能力。与 ISO 水平较高的个体相比，ISO 水平较低的个体发生 NAFLD 的风险增加 71%至 82%。ISO 等代谢物与内脏脂肪组织、IR 及相关标志物相结合，构成了一种潜在的非侵入性工具，可用于预测和诊断 NAFLD。
