• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2011

We evaluated whether liver markers such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), and bilirubin have a relationship with other physiological factors in the normal (n=115) and fatty liver subjects (n=122) and there are differences between the two populations. Body indices were higher in the fatty liver group than in the normal group. Liver markers and blood pressure (BP) were greater in the fatty liver group than in the normal group. AST and ALT levels were positively correlated with body indices in the fatty liver group, but not in the normal group. AST, ALT and GGT levels in the fatty liver group had positive relationship with cardiovascular indices (CI). ALP and bilirubin levels were negatively associated with some of CI. Liver markers were negatively or positively correlated with inflammatory markers, thyroid hormones, or several biochemical markers levels. These findings suggest that abnormal changes in liver markers may be useful tool for diagnosis or prognosis of development of cardiovascular and/or inflammatory diseases as well as metabolic syndrome.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.295-305
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• 2021

Purpose: Hepcidin levels have previously been reported to be correlated with liver damage. However, the association between hepcidin levels and liver fibrosis in children with fatty liver disease remains unclear. This study therefore aimed to investigate the pathophysiology of fibrosis in children with fatty liver disease and its association with hepcidin levels. Methods: This retrospective case series included 12 boys aged 6-17 years who were diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) at the Tokyo Medical University Hospital. Sixteen liver biopsy samples from 12 subjects were analyzed. Serum hepcidin levels were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunostaining for hepcidin was performed, and the samples were stratified by staining intensity. Results: Serum hepcidin levels were higher in pediatric NAFLD/NASH patients than in controls. Conversely, a significant inverse correlation was observed between hepcidin immunostaining and Brunt grade scores and between hepcidin scores and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, hyaluronic acid, and leukocyte levels. We observed inverse correlations with a high correlation coefficient of >0.4 between hepcidin immunostaining and aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bile acid, and platelet count. Conclusion: There was a significant inverse correlation between hepcidin immunoreactivity and fibrosis in pediatric NAFLD patients; however, serum hepcidin levels were significantly higher, suggesting that these patients experienced a reduction in the hepcidin-producing ability of the liver in response to iron levels, leading to subsequent fibrosis. Therefore, hepcidin levels can be used as markers to identify the progression of fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.158-166
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of berberine on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We searched seven electronic databases for studies through October 2022. All randomized controlled trials (RTCs) of berberine were included. Data extraction and risk of bias assessments were performed by two independent reviewers. The RevMan 5.4.1 program was used for meta-analysis. Results: A total of 279 relevant studies were identified, and 6 eligible RCTs were included to study the efficacy berberine on NAFLD. The six selected trials are studies on the effect between berberine and conventional treatment combined treatment versus conventional treatment. Liver function tests, blood lipid levels, and blood glucose levels were assessed. Combination treatment with berberine, ursodeoxycholate acid, metformin, and monascus purpureus showed statistically significant improvements in liver function levels, blood lipid levels, and blood glucose levels compared to conventional treatment alone. However, there was no significant efficacy of berberine combination dietary, exercise than control group on NAFLD. The meta-analysis results of examining 4 RCTs comparing the therapeutic efficacy of berberine showed statistically significant improvement in the liver function test, blood lipids levels, blood glucose levels. Conclusions: This study suggests that berberine has positive efficacy on blood lipids, blood glucose liver function, fatty liver condition of NAFLD. However, the level of evidence is low because of small effect size,so further investigation is needed.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.22-30
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• 2019

Objectives The aim of this study is to investigate the related factors of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods The subjects were 187 persons diagnosed as fatty liver by abdominal ultrasonography. They were divided into three groups according to the severity of fatty liver: control, mild, moderate or severe. The three groups' general characteristics, laboratory results, liver function indexes, metabolic syndrome indexes, tumor markers, heart rate variability values and Sasang constitution distribution were compared and analyzed. Results Male ratio, height, weight, body mass index, red blood cell count, hemoglobin level and creatinine level were higher in NAFLD groups than in control group. The levels of sodium and amylase were higher in control than in NAFLD. In liver function, the levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transpepsidase of NAFLD were higher. In metabolic syndrome index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were higher in NAFLD, while high density lipoprotein cholesterol level was higher in control. The alpha-feto protein level was higher in NAFLD, and the heart rate variability was not different between NAFLD and control groups. In Sasang constitution, Taeeumin ratio of NAFLD was higher than of control. Conclusions The results suggest that nonalcoholic fatty liver is clinically related to liver dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, tumor markers, and Sasang constitution. Further studies are needed to control nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and prevent severe disease such as cirrhosis and cancer caused by fatty liver.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.184-189
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• 2002

The effects of dietary Int levels on lipid metabolism under fixed P/S (1.3) and n-6/n-3 (5.1) fatty acid ratios were examined in rats using palm oil, soybean oil and perilla oil. These ratios correspond to the recommended composition of dietary fat for humans. The range of dietary fat levels was 5-20% by weight (11.8-39.3% of total energy). The levels of dietary fat did not influence the concentrations of serum and liver cholesterol, whereas the level of triglycerides was gradually elevated with increasing levels of dietary fat, especially in the liver. The fatty acid composition of tissue phosphatidylcholine seemed to vary with the different levels of fat. The ratio of linoleic acid to arachidonic acid was increased more significantly in the heart than in the liver. In adipose tissue total lipids, the percentages of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids decreased, whereas the percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acid increased, with increasing dietary Int levels. In addition, though the level of aortic prostacyclin was not uniformly affected by increasing dietary fat levels, thromboxane A2 production by platelets tended to increase with higher levels of dietary fat, suggesting an increased risk of thrombosis in this situation. Thus, even though dietary fat may have desirable compositions of fatty acids, these excessive consumption can produce unfavorable metabolic responses.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1140-1152
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• 1997

Serum and liver lipid levels and fatty acid composition of liver phospolipids (PL) were investigated in 36 rats which consumed either one of five different dietary fats or a high carbohydrate diet for 4 weeks. As the sources of five dietary fats, concentrated cicosapentaenoic acid(EPA), fish oil (FO), perilla oil(PO), corn oil(CO) and beef tallow (BT) were provided to the rats. As a control group, cron starch (CS) replaced dietary fat. The FO group showed lower serum total cholesterol (TC), high density lipiprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) and serum PL levels than those of the CO group(p<0.05). There were no significant differences in serum TC and serum HDL-C levels between the polyunsatured fatty acid(PUFA) groups and the EPA, FO and PO groups. The CS group showed the highest level serum TC. Compared with the CS group, both the EPA and CO groups showed significantly lower atherogenic indices(AI). However, there were no significant differences in AI among different dietary fat groups. No significant differences in liver triglyceride (TG) , TC and PL levels were detected among the six experimental groups. Phosphatidylcholine(PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine(PE) composed 30-40% and 15-20% of total liver PL, respectively. The fatty acid composition of liver PC and PE reflected dietary fatty acid composition . Compared to the different dietary fat based diets used in our study, the high carbohydrate diet had the most adverse effects on serum lipid profiles. However, we can not conclude from this result that long chain n-3 PUFA diets such as the EPA and FO based diets have more beneficial effects on serum lipid profiles than n-6 PUFA diet such as the CO based diet or shorter chain n-3 PUFA diets like the PO based diet.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.11-18
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• 2003

Purpose : This study examined the effect of Tongbiyeum (TBY) on rats with fatty livers. Methods : After administration of TBY extracts to rats with fatty livers, body weight, liver weight, serum, cholesterol, TG, HDL-cholesterol were measured, and histopathological changes were observed. Results : In proportion to density, TBY decreased liver weight and serum TG levels and suppressed fat accumulation and liver cell death, but increased serum HDL levels in comparison with those of controls. Conclusion : TBY might be considered to be used to control fatty liver by inhibiting absorption and storage of TG.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.171-180
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• 2016

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent liver diseases associated with an altered lifestyle, besides genetic factors. The control and management of NAFLD mostly depend on lifestyle modifications, due to the lack of a specific therapeutic approach. In this context, we assessed the effect of carrot juice on the development of high fructose-induced hepatic steatosis. For this purpose, male weanling Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, fed either a control (Con) or high fructose (HFr) diet of AIN93G composition, with or without carrot juice (CJ) for 8 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, plasma biochemical markers, such as triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, and ${\beta}$-hydroxy butyrate levels were comparable among the 4 groups. Although, the liver injury marker, aspartate aminotransferase, levels in plasma showed a reduction, hepatic triglycerides levels were not significantly reduced by carrot juice ingestion in the HFr diet-fed rats (HFr-CJ). On the other hand, the key triglyceride synthesis pathway enzyme, hepatic stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), expression at mRNA level was augmented by carrot juice ingestion, while their protein levels showed a significant reduction, which corroborated with decreased monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), particularly palmitoleic (C16:1) and oleic (C18:1) acids. Notably, it also improved the long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6) content of the liver in HFr-CJ. In conclusion, carrot juice ingestion decreased the SCD1-mediated production of MUFA and improved DHA levels in liver, under high fructose diet-fed conditions. However, these changes did not significantly lower the hepatic triglyceride levels.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.255-263
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• 1986

The incidences of liver abscess, fatty liver and fascioliasis were 11.9%, 23.2％ and 36.0%, respectively in 211 Holstein cattle observed at the slaughter house. Blood chemical values of them were measured. The results were as follows : 1. Liver abscess group was significantly higher than normal group in the levels of SDH, AST, TP, globulin and fibrinogen, but it was significantly lower than normal group in the levels of albumin and A/G ratio (p<0.01). 2. Fatty liver group was significantly higher than normal group in the levels of SDH, AST, OCT, TP and globulin, but it was significantly lower than normal group in the levels of albumin and A/G ratio (p<0.01). 3. Fasciolisais group was significantly higher than normal group in the levels of AST. TP and globulin (p<0.01), but it was significantly lower than normal group in the levels of albumin and A/G ratio (p<0.01).

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.307-312
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate the effects of Acer tegmentosum Maxim. extract (ATE) on non-alcoholic fatty liver in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. During oral administration of ATE, non-alcoholic fatty liver was induced by treatment with DL-ethionine. The lipid, total cholesterol (T-CHO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver tissue of ATE-fed rats showed lower levels, as compared to ATE-unfed rats. In ATE-fed rats, the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were lower than the case of ATE-unfed rats. Oil red staining of the liver showed that the lipid deposits were decreased by feeding ATE. These results strongly indicated that ATE has positive effects of protection against non-alcoholic fatty liver formation.