Plasma lipid parameters in patients with alcoholic fatty liver after treatment with essential phospholipids

Fatty liver is the earliest and most common response to alcohol. The accumulation of lipid particles in hepatocytes alters the ultrastructure of cellular membranes. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of the administration of essential phospholipids on plasma lipid parameters in patients with alcoholic fatty liver.

Our open clinical trial was performed in patients suffering from alcoholic fatty liver. The investigated group consisted of 29 patients. Two capsules of Essentiale forte were administered 3 times daily for 3 months. Individual biochemical parameters were examined each month. Values of total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, apoprotein A and B were determined.

The therapy with essential phospholipids had positive effects on the parameters of hepatocyte integrity. The levels of total cholesterol, triacylglycerols and apoprotein B were significantly higher in patients with fatty liver than in the controls. The concentration of HDL-cholesterol was also higher before the therapy than in the control group. There was no difference in levels of apoprotein A and LDL-cholesterol between the patients and the controls. There was no significant therapeutic effect on plasma lipid parameters in the group of patients with fatty liver.

The effects of treatment of alcoholic fatty liver with essential phospholipids were studied. The therapy had positive effects on the parameters of hepatocyte integrity. There was no significant therapeutic effect of the therapy on plasma lipid parameters. (Tab. 2, Fig. 1, Ref. 20).