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Does vitamin C deficiency promote fatty liver disease development?
David Højland Ipsen1, Pernille Tveden-Nyborg2, Jens Lykkesfeldt3
1Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Ridebanevej 9, Frederiksberg C, 1870 Copenhagen, Denmark. dhi@sund.ku.dk.
Nutrients
|December 24, 2014
Summary
Low vitamin C (VitC) status is linked to obesity-related diseases like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This review explores if VitC deficiency contributes to NAFLD and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) development.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Metabolic Disease Research
- Hepatology
Background:
- Obesity and metabolic syndrome are linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
- Dietary factors promote dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, and inflammation, contributing to NAFLD/NASH.
- Poor vitamin C (VitC) status is associated with lifestyle-related diseases, with overweight individuals showing reduced plasma VitC levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current data on the potential role of vitamin C (VitC) deficiency in the development of NAFLD and NASH.
- To investigate the association between dietary habits, VitC intake, and NAFLD/NASH.
- To examine epidemiological and experimental evidence linking VitC status to liver disease.
Main Methods:
- Review of human epidemiological surveys.
- Analysis of controlled in vivo animal studies.
- Synthesis of data on VitC status in relation to obesity and liver disease.
Main Results:
- Epidemiological studies suggest lower VitC intake in NAFLD patients.
- Overweight and obesity are associated with reduced plasma VitC levels.
- VitC deficiency prevalence is higher in individuals with adverse lifestyles.
Conclusions:
- Evidence suggests a potential association between vitamin C (VitC) deficiency and the development of NAFLD and NASH.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise role of VitC in these metabolic liver diseases.
- Maintaining adequate VitC levels may be important for mitigating risks associated with adverse lifestyle factors and liver disease progression.
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