Dietary linoleic acid and the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids are inversely associated with significant liver fibrosis risk: A nationwide survey

Abstract

Since no pharmaceuticals have been proven to effectively reduce liver fibrosis, dietary fatty acids may be beneficial as one of the non-pharmaceutical interventions due to their important roles in liver metabolism. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the data from the 2017–2018 cycle of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine the associations between the proportion and composition of dietary fatty acid intakes with significant liver fibrosis among US population. The dietary fatty acid consumptions were calculated based on two 24-h dietary recalls. Significant liver fibrosis was diagnosed based on liver stiffness measurement value derived from the vibration controlled transient elastography. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and sensitivity analysis were performed to assess the association between dietary fatty acid consumption and significant liver fibrosis risk. Finally, restricted cubic spline analysis was carried out to explore the dose–response between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) or linoleic acid intakes and the risk of significant liver fibrosis. The results showed that the multivariate adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of significant liver fibrosis were 0.34 (0.14–0.84), 0.68 (0.50–0.91), and 0.64 (0.47–0.87) for the highest level of unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio, dietary PUFA, and linoleic acid intakes compared to the lowest reference, respectively. The sensitivity analysis and restricted cubic spline analysis produced similar results, reinforcing the inverse association of unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio, PUFA, and linoleic acid consumptions with significant liver fibrosis risk. However, other dietary fatty acids did not show the statistically significant association with significant liver fibrosis. In conclusion, dietary linoleic acid may play a key role in the inverse association between the unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio and the risk of significant liver fibrosis. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

LC/MS-Based Untargeted Metabolomics Study in Women with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Associated with Morbid Obesity

“…In this sense, Puri et al also reported notably decreased levels of linoleic acid in NASH [ 32 ]. Additionally, it has been shown that the circulating levels of linoleic acid from the diet have an inverse association with the risk of developing hepatic fibrosis [ 33 ]. Linoleic acid levels may be as low as that of an insulin sensitizer, which would imply a maintained persistence of hepatic insulin resistance throughout the course of the disease.…”

Baseline metabolites could predict responders with hepatitis B virus-related liver fibrosis for entecavir or combined with FuzhengHuayu tablet

“…Regarding linoleic acid metabolism, a study suggested an inverse association between dietary linoleic acid intake and the risk of significant liver fibrosis, particularly emphasizing the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids[ 19 ]. Another clinical investigation demonstrated that specific alterations in linoleic acid metabolites could differentiate individuals with moderate alcohol-associated hepatitis from those with mild alcohol-associated liver disease among heavy drinkers.…”

Lipid Metabolism in Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)

“…Additionally, Puri et al also reported significantly lower long-chain PUFA concentrations in MASH patients compared to the control group [ 100 ]. In research undertaken by Zhu et al, an analysis of the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data revealed a negative correlation between the ratio of unsaturated to saturated FAs and the likelihood of experiencing significant liver fibrosis in the U.S. population [ 101 ]. Specifically, higher intakes of dietary PUFA and linoleic acid were linked to a decreased risk of significant liver fibrosis.…”