Weight loss in MASLD restores the balance of liver fatty acid sources

BACKGROUNDLipogenesis contributes substantially to the pathological accumulation of intrahepatic triacylglycerol (IHTG) in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Since hepatic lipogenesis is highly sensitive to energy intake, we hypothesized that mechanisms of MASLD regression induced by weight loss would be driven by a marked reduction in the lipogenic pathway.METHODSOverweight adults with high liver fat (HighLF; n = 9; IHTG ≥ 5.6% measured by 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy) or low (normal) liver fat (LowLF; n = 6; IHTG < 5.6%) received dietary counseling for 6 months and underwent comprehensive metabolic phenotyping during inpatient studies that captured fasting and fed states. Multiple stable isotopes were used to assess the contribution of lipogenesis, free fatty acids (FFAs), and dietary fat to IHTG.RESULTSBody weight loss (-10% ± 2%) reduced IHTG in individuals with MASLD (19.4% ± 3.6% to 4.5% ± 2.1%, P < 0.001). Insulin sensitivity improved significantly (46%, P < 0.01), while fasting FFA flux from adipose tissue was not different. VLDL-triacylglycerol (VLDL-TG) concentrations fell by 38% (P = 0.02) because of a 67% reduction in contribution from lipogenesis (P = 0.02), whereas the absolute contributions from FFAs and dietary fat to VLDL-TG were not different. Reduced lipogenesis was significantly associated with loss of IHTG.CONCLUSIONThese data underscore the primary role of lipogenesis in MASLD pathology and highlight the importance of controlling this pathway through treatment strategies.TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01371396).FUNDINGNational Institutes of Health (NIH) grant RL1DK081187; Task Force for Obesity Research at Southwestern (TORS) NIH UL1DE019584; and Clinical and Translational Science Award NIH/National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences UL1-RR024982.