Lipidome Changes Associated with a Diet-Induced Reduction in Hepatic Fat among Adolescent Boys with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

Abstract

Little is known about lipid changes that occur in the setting of metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) regression. We previously reported improvements in hepatic steatosis, de novo lipogenesis (DNL), and metabolomic profiles associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and selected lipid metabolism in 40 adolescent boys (11–16 y) with hepatic steatosis ≥5% (98% meeting the definition of MASLD). Participants were randomized to a low-free-sugar diet (LFSD) (n = 20) or usual diet (n = 20) for 8 weeks. Here, we employed untargeted/targeted lipidomics to examine lipid adaptations associated with the LFSD and improvement of hepatic steatosis. Our LC-MS/MS analysis revealed decreased triglycerides (TGs), diacylglycerols (DGs), cholesteryl esters (ChE), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), and phosphatidylcholine (PC) species with the diet intervention (p < 0.05). Network analysis demonstrated significantly lower levels of palmitate-enriched TG species post-intervention, mirroring the previously shown reduction in DNL in response to the LFSD. Targeted oxylipins analysis revealed a decrease in the abundance of 8-isoprostane and 14,15-DiHET and an increase in 8,9-DiHET (p < 0.05). Overall, we observed reductions in TGs, DGs, ChE, PC, and LPC species among participants in the LFSD group. These same lipids have been associated with MASLD progression; therefore, our findings may indicate normalization of key biological processes, including lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and lipotoxicity. Additionally, our targeted oxylipins assay revealed novel changes in eicosanoids, suggesting improvements in oxidative stress. Future studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms of these findings and prospects of these lipids as biomarkers of MASLD regression.