Concentrated fish oil ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating fibroblast growth factor 21–adiponectin axis

Objectives:The fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21)-adiponectin axis participates in energy hemostasis and obesity-related syndrome. The present study aimed to investigate whether concentrated fish oil (FO) intervention could alleviate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) via the regulation of the FGF21-adiponectin axis.

Methods:In a randomized controlled trial, 61 patients with NAFLD, age 55.9 ± 15.6 y, were randomly divided into two groups: FO (3 g/d; n = 30) and corn oil (CO; 3 g/d; n = 31), which served as the control group.

Results:After a 3-mo intervention, there were significant net reductions in serum alanine transaminase (-5.4 ± 14.5 U/L vs. -0.25 ± 4.70 U/L; P = 0.001) and triacylglycerol (-0.70 ± 1.10 mmol/L vs. 0.11 ± 1.04 mmol/L; P = 0.018) levels in the FO group compared with the CO group. Furthermore, the mean changes of FGF21 levels (-16.3 ± 20.1 pg/mL vs. 7.2 ± 32.9 pg/mL; P = 0.002) were significantly decreased, but adiponectin levels (1.14 ± 1.53 μg/mL vs. -0.42 ± 2.04 pg/mL; P = 0.011) were significantly increased in the FO group compared with the CO group. In the animal study, the mice fed the high-fat diet demonstrated characteristics of NAFLD. The administration of FO significantly improved high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, and inflammation compared with the high-fat control group. In addition, FO improved the sensitivity of FGF21, and stimulated the expression levels of adiponectin in the liver.

Conclusions:The present study suggested that FO could potentially ameliorate NAFLD through mediating the FGF21-adiponectin axis.

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