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Author Spotlight: Establishing MASLD Cell Models for Investigating Disease Mechanisms and the Lipid-Lowering Effects of Koumiss
Published on: July 19, 2024
Association of circulating fatty acids with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: A
Zhibing Liu1, Peng Wang2, Yiming Wang1
1Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Background & Aims:
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prevalent condition with limited therapeutic options. Circulating fatty acids (FAs) have been linked to MASLD, but their specific roles and potential causality remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the associations between FAs and MASLD.
Methods:
This study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014, including 3084 participants with serum FAs concentrations (% total FAs). MASLD status was assessed using the Fatty Liver Index (FLI) or the U.S. Fatty Liver Index (USFLI). Odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) of MASLD risk were evaluated using weighted logistic regression. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis for FAs with MASLD was conducted, and the principal analysis employed the inverse variance weighted approach.
Results:
In observational analysis, we identified 1500 cases of MASLD. Saturated FAs (SFAs) were positively associated with MASLD risk [ORQ3vsQ1: 2.41 (95 % CI: 1.56-3.74)], whereas polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) and omega-6 PUFAs showed the negative associations [ORQ3vsQ1: 0.49 (0.30-0.80) and ORQ3vsQ1: 0.46 (0.27-0.79), respectively]. Among 30 individual FAs, 7 were associated with an increased risk of MASLD, with the highest risk observed for dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid [ORQ3vsQ1: 2.07 (1.30-3.28)]. In contrast, 3 FAs showed an inverse association, with the lowest risk observed for linoleic acid [ORQ3vsQ1: 0.50 (0.28-0.90)]. MR analysis revealed negative causal relationships between genetically predicted omega-6 PUFAs/total fatty acids (TFA) [OR: 0.80 (0.65-0.99)], PUFAs/TFA [OR: 0.73 (0.63-0.84)] and MASLD.
Conclusions:
There are differential associations between individual FAs and collective fatty acid classes with MASLD risk, and omega-6 PUFAs may serve as stable biomarkers for potential prevention and treatment of MASLD.
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