Understanding the Role of Dietary Fatty Acids on Liver Fat Metabolism in Humans

N/ACompletedNCT01936779

University of Oxford40 enrolled

Overview

High levels of fatty substances in the blood increase the risk of developing heart disease. Investigators know a lot about one of these fatty substances, cholesterol. However, there is another fatty substance in the blood called triglyceride. Investigators do not understand much about what regulates the rate at which the liver produces triglyceride and liberates it into the bloodstream after eating a meal(s). It is known that taking fish oil lowers the amount of blood triglyceride however, it remains unclear how this happens. Investigators will study if changes in liver fat metabolism, after taking fatty acids found in fish oil (n-3 fatty acids)can explain the lowering of blood triglyceride. Investigators also want to know if taking fish oil alters the amount of fat that accumulates within the liver.

Investigators will recruit men and women with no medical condition or relevant drug therapy that affects liver fat metabolism. Purpose and design: Investigators are asking the research question: "How do specific fatty acids, such as those found in fish ((n-3) fatty acids) influence postprandial liver fat metabolism?" It is known that n-3 fatty acids lower plasma triglyceride concentrations but it remains unclear how this happens. To address this research question investigators want to undertake detail physiological studies, in a randomised study where individuals will be studied before and after taking n-3 fatty acids or a placebo oil.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

NAFLD

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study. * BMI \>19 \<35kg/m2 * No medical condition or relevant drug therapy known to affect liver metabolism Exclusion Criteria: * Age \<18 or \>65 years * Body mass index \<19 or \>35kg/m2 * A blood haemoglobin \<120mg/dL * Any metabolic condition or relevant drug therapy * People allergic to fish / seafood or nuts * Smoking * History of alcoholism or a greater than recommended alcohol intake * Pregnant or nursing mothers * Women prescribed any contraceptive agent or device including oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or who have used these within the last 12 months * History of severe claustrophobia * Presence of metallic implants, pacemaker * Haemorrhagic disorders * Anticoagulant treatment

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Plasma triglyceride concentrations

Investigators will measure plasma triglyceride concentrations at baseline and 8 weeks after taking n-3 fatty acids or a placebo.

Time frame: Eight weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Hepatic fatty acid partitioning

Investigators will measure the contribution of newly synthesised fatty acids and dietary fatty acids to triglyceride production and oxidation pathways in the liver at baseline and 8 weeks after taking n-3 fatty acids.