Tag Archives: NAFLD

Intermittent fasting for the management of NAFLD: Is there enough evidence?

Simona Cernea1,2, Florina Ruţa3

1. Department M3, Internal Medicine I, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania
2. Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Outpatient Unit, Emergency County Clinical Hospital, Târgu Mureş, Romania
3. Department of Community Nutrition and Food Safety, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2023-0001

The pathogenesis of the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been described as multifactorial, with genetic and environmental factors acting synergistically and causing excessive hepatic lipid accumulation, insulin resistance, and downstream pathogenetic insults. High-calorie diets, particularly those rich in foods with high (saturated) fat and sugar content, and sugar-sweetened beverages, are among the behavioral risk factors with a crucial role in the disease pathogenesis. In addition, meal frequency and meal timing appear to be relevant factors associated with NAFLD. Current guidelines recommend a hypocaloric, preferably Mediterranean diet as the main dietary intervention approach, but various other dietary models have been evaluated in patients with NAFLD. Among these, several intermittent fasting regimens have shown promising results. Diets based on Time-Restricted Feeding and Intermittent Energy Restriction have demonstrated some improvements in body adiposity, liver enzymes, and hepatic steatosis, but most studies included a small number of subjects, were of relatively short-duration, and used surrogate markers of NAFLD. The best intermittent fasting regimen for NAFLD is not yet known, and further well-designed research that evaluates the feasibility (mainly on long-term), safety and efficacy outcomes of these dietary interventions is still needed. Our review has evaluated the up-to-date information regarding the intermittent fasting dietary intervention in NAFLD and generated some key-point messages that are relevant to physicians and dietitians involved in the care of patients with NAFLD.

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The Results of ARFI (Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse) Elastographic Assessment of Liver Aspect and NAFLD (Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) in Pediatric Obese Patients Compared to Normal-weight Children

Mărginean Oana, Brînzaniuc Klara, Mărginean C, Voidăzan S, Pitea Ana Maria

University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania

Background: The incidence of obesity has dramatically increased in the last few years, and associated disorders such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) constitute a serious threat. The objective of our study was to assess the liver aspect of obese children and adolescents by real-time elastography, ARFI-technique, compared to the liver aspect of normal-weight children.
Methods: Eighty-six children, aged 3–18 years, admitted to the County Emergency Clinical Hospital of Tîrgu Mureș between 15 September 2010 and 15 April 2012, were recruited for the study. They were included in two groups: 39 overweight/obese children and 47 normal-weight healthy controls. We evaluated the liver-tissue elasticity by measuring the Shear Wave Velocity (SWV), globally and separately for segments 1 and 8 in order to detect possible differences beetween them, knowing that the caudate-lobe has it’s own vasculature; we also evaluated biochemical parameters (transaminases, etc). Correlations between SWV and laboratory tests were established using non-parametric Spearman correlation test.
Results: In healty children in the 1st segment SWV was 1.012±0.31 m/s, smaller than in the 8th segment, 1.342±0.32 m/s (p = 0.0316). For obese children, SWV was higher in the 8th segment 1.982±0.85 m/s compared to the 1st segment 1.325±0.27 m/s (p <0.0001). Globally in obese children, the SWV was 1.746±0.49 m/s, significantly higher than in healthy children, 1.080±0.27 m/s (p = 0.0023). Positive statistical correlations have been established between SWV and aspartate-aminotransferase in obese (r = 0.61, Pearson correlation p = 0.025), with no statistically significant differences for other laboratory findings.
Conclusion: Elastographic evaluation of liver alterations in obesity by ARFI-method shows higher SWV, which could be translated in fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity. According to our study, these alterations in liver tissue affect mainly the right lobe of the liver.

 

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Is NAFLD a Risk Factor for Colorectal Polyps? An Analysis of Single Romanian Centre

Kozma Bela*, Pop Crina, Petrut Madalina, Drasovean Silvia, Dobru Daniela

Department of Gastroenterology, Mures County Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tîrgu Mureş,  Romania

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0065

Background and Aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered to be the most common of all liver disorders, and its prevalence is almost certainly increasing. Because of the presence of NAFLD in metabolic syndrome and of latter’s role in the appearance of colorectal polyps, many studies have tried to find a link between the liver disease and colorectal polyps. The aim of the study was to determine whether NAFLD is a risk factor for colorectal polyps.
Material and Methods: We examined 560 patients diagnosed with NAFLD who underwent colonoscopy at Mures County Hospital, between January 2011 and June 2014. Fatty liver disease was assessed by abdominal ultrasound, with NAFLD defined as fatty liver disease in the absence of alcohol use of > 40 g/week or other secondary causes. We divided the 560 patients into two groups, according to the presence or absence of polyps. Data were collected from patient’s history, physical exam, laboratory tests and abdominal ultrasound.
Results: The prevalence of colorectal polyps was 16.6% (93) in the NAFLD patients. 51 (54.8%) of them were female, and the Chi2 test identified a statistically significant association between the female gender and the appearance of polyps (p=0.028; OR=1.652; CI= 1.052-2.596). No statistical association was found between the smoking status and the development of colorectal polyps (p=0.245) and only 18 of 93 patients were smokers. Of 93 patients with polyps, 68 (73.1%) have associated diabetes mellitus, but without statistical correlation (p=0.214). According to family history of colorectal polyps none of the patients have data about a possible polyposis pathology.
Conclusions: Our study demonstrates a relationship between some characteristics of NAFLD and the development of colorectal polyps. Further studies are required to confirm whether NAFLD is a risk factor for the appearance of polyps.

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