- Cases of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are increasing, and the disease is associated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
- Up to 90% of obese people have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Obesity can also affect how your body processes vitamins.
- Recent research shows that increasing levels of niacin, or vitamin B3, may reduce overall mortality and cardiovascular disease deaths in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease .
The number of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has increased in recent years, with an estimated prevalence of 32.4% worldwide and 47.8% in the United States.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disease that begins with a buildup of initially harmless fat in the liver. However, as the condition progresses, this fat buildup can harm the liver, which is responsible for filtering blood and performing many important metabolic processes.
It can cause fibrosis, the formation of scar tissue, which is itself a type of injury. There is also a risk of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which occurs when the liver becomes inflamed.
A group of researchers from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, recently published a large cohort-based study investigating the effect of niacin intake on mortality in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Research results are published in a magazine
Data on 4,315 adults aged 20 and older with NAFLD
Information about the diets of these people was estimated from data collected during the study using a dietary interview called “What We Eat in America.”
Researchers asked participants to recall the type and amount of food they had consumed in the 24 hours (midnight to midnight) before the interview. Almost all participants conducted two interviews with him. The first meal interview was conducted in person, and the second interview was conducted over the phone 3 to 10 days after the first interview.
A total of 566 deaths were recorded during a mean follow-up of 8.8 years, of which 197 were attributed to cardiovascular disease.
Participants with the highest daily niacin intake (26.7 milligrams (mg) or more) had a 30% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease and a 35% lower risk of all-cause mortality than participants who took daily niacin. It seemed low. The dietary intake is 18.4 mg or less.
The study authors suggested that their results support the idea that 20 mg of niacin per day may be effective for patients with NAFLD.
The current study only estimated the total amount of niacin in the diet and did not examine whether niacin supplementation would have a similar effect.
This study is also limited by the fact that calculations of niacin intake were estimated based on participants’ dietary recalls, which may be inaccurate.
Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, has many functions, including converting nutrients into energy, producing cholesterol and fats, repairing DNA replication and pathways, and is also an antioxidant.
This vitamin is found in many foods, including meat, fish, brown rice, bananas, and fortified foods, so few people are deficient.
Research shows that niacin can improve muscle performance in humans. Animal studies suggest that this may be due to the fact that niacin is a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). These two coenzymes are essential for many metabolic pathways, including energy metabolism and oxidation.
Regarding the vitamin’s effects on NAFLD, registered dietitian Nicola Ludlam-Raine, who was not involved in the study, said: Today’s medical news that:
“Recent research findings highlighting the potential benefits of vitamin B3 (niacin) for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) demonstrate that nutrition plays an important role in the management of obesity and obesity-related symptoms. Highlights: Vitamins and nutrients are key to metabolic processes, and their adequacy or deficiency can have a significant impact on the progression or mitigation of obesity-related diseases, including NAFLD.”
“Vitamin B3 is known for its role in converting food into energy, repairing DNA, and lowering cholesterol levels, which may explain its beneficial effects on NAFLD. However, “Care should be taken when taking supplements, as excessive intake can cause adverse effects,” she warned.
The main risk factors for NAFLD include being overweight or obese, underactive thyroid, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking.
“It’s important to note that we’re seeing a lot of research,” said Dr. Shafaq Tarar, an internist and primary care physician at Manhattan Medical Center who was not involved in the current study. MNT The association between obesity and NAFLD is likely due to metabolic changes.
She explained:
“Obesity is associated with an increased likelihood of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. A hallmark of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, known as steatosis, is the uptake of fatty acids from the bloodstream by the liver and the production of new fatty acids. occurs when synthesis exceeds the liver’s ability to oxidize fatty acids and transport them as very low-density triglycerides.
“Excessive amounts of intrahepatic triglycerides therefore indicate an imbalance in the complex interactions of metabolic processes,” she added.
“The presence of steatosis is associated with a variety of unfavorable changes in the metabolism of glucose, fatty acids, and lipoproteins. Abnormalities in fatty acid metabolism are associated with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, as well as inflammation in adipose tissue, the liver, and the whole body. , and is likely to be an important factor in the development of other cardiometabolic risk factors associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.” Dr. Taller.
The link between obesity and NAFLD may also provide answers as to why certain vitamins are particularly beneficial for people with the disease.
Excess weight and obesity are associated with vitamin D deficiency, and the mechanisms underlying this and its impact on overall health are the subject of research.
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This may explain why vitamin D supplementation was observed to be less effective in this group, the researchers who conducted the trial hypothesized.
Dr. Suzanne Manzi, an obesity specialist who was not involved in the study, said: MNT “People who are obese may require higher levels of certain vitamins due to several factors, including increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and potential nutrient deficiencies resulting from diet quality.”
“Additionally, the bioavailability of some vitamins can be affected by obesity, requiring increased intake to meet the body’s needs,” she said. For example, the fat-soluble nature of vitamin D means that vitamin D storage and release may be altered in people with high body fat percentages, potentially requiring higher intake levels to maintain optimal blood levels. It means that there is a gender. ”
