Hepatic lipid saturation indices and insulin resistance in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Abstract

NAFLD is a prevalent condition associated with obesity and insulin resistance (IR). Evidence suggests saturated lipids play a key role in the development of NAFLD while polyunsaturated lipids may be protective. Our aim was to examine the relationships between indices of lipid saturation (SI), polyunsaturation (PUI) and total fat content in the liver with measures of peripheral (GDR) and hepatic insulin resistance (HGP). Obese (n=21; BMI: 33.8±0.97 kg/m2) subjects with suspected or diagnosed NAFLD underwent measures of liver lipid saturation via proton MRS, visceral adiposity (VAT) and euglycemic clamp with 2H2‐glucose infusion. Total hepatic triglyceride content (HTGC; 15.3±2.0%) was negatively correlated (R=− 0.39; p<0.05) with GDR, and positively correlated (R=0.55; p<0.05) with VAT. However, SI (95.8±0.3%) did not correlate with HTGC, GDR or HGP, while PUI (0.3±0.03%) was inversely and paradoxically associated with GDR (R=− 0.55; p<0.05). PUI was also found to be correlated with VAT, BMI, and HTGC (R=0.74, 0.54, 0.52; p<0.05). In obese subjects with NAFLD, MRS derived indices of liver lipid saturation appear to be linked to measures of adiposity such as VAT, BMI and total HTGC. Further examination in a more heterogeneous population is required to validate the diagnostic utility of liver lipid saturation indices with NAFLD.