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Randomised clinical trial: The beneficial effects of VSL#3 in obese children with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

ABSTRACT: Gut microbiota modifiers may have beneficial effects of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) but randomised controlled trials (RCT) are lacking in children.To perform a double-blind RCT of VSL#3 vs. placebo in obese children with biopsy-proven NAFLD.Of 48 randomised children, 44 (22 VSL#3 and 22 placebo) completed the study. The main outcome was the change in fatty liver severity at 4 months as detected by ultrasonography. Secondary outcomes were the changes in triglycerides, insulin resistance as detected by the homoeostasis model assessment (HOMA), alanine transaminase (ALT), body mass index (BMI), glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and activated GLP-1 (aGLP-1). Ordinal and linear models with cluster confidence intervals were used to evaluate the efficacy of VSL#3 vs. placebo at 4 months.At baseline, moderate and severe NAFLD were present in 64% and 36% of PLA children and in 55% and 45% of VSL#3 children. The probability that children supplemented with VSL#3 had none, light, moderate or severe FL at the end of the study was 21%, 70%, 9% and 0% respectively with corresponding values of 0%, 7%, 76% and 17% for the placebo group (P < 0.001). No between-group differences were detected in triglycerides, HOMA and ALT while BMI decreased and GLP-1 and aGLP1 increased in the VSL#3 group (P < 0.001 for all comparisons).A 4-month supplement of VSL#3 significantly improves NAFLD in children. The VSL#3-dependent GLP-1 increase could be responsible for these beneficial effects. Trial identifier: NCT01650025 (www.clinicaltrial.gov).

SUBMITTER: Alisi A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4046270 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Randomised clinical trial: The beneficial effects of VSL#3 in obese children with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Alisi A A Bedogni G G Baviera G G Giorgio V V Porro E E Paris C C Giammaria P P Reali L L Anania F F Nobili V V

Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics 20140416 11

<h4>Background</h4>Gut microbiota modifiers may have beneficial effects of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) but randomised controlled trials (RCT) are lacking in children.<h4>Aim</h4>To perform a double-blind RCT of VSL#3 vs. placebo in obese children with biopsy-proven NAFLD.<h4>Methods</h4>Of 48 randomised children, 44 (22 VSL#3 and 22 placebo) completed the study. The main outcome was the change in fatty liver severity at 4 months as detected by ultrasonography. Secondary outcomes we ...[more]

PMID: 24738701

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Project description:This paper is based upon the "Charles Lieber Satellite Symposia" organized by Manuela G. Neuman at the Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) Annual Meetings, 2013 and 2014. The present review includes pre-clinical, translational and clinical research that characterize alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In addition, a literature search in the discussed area was performed. Strong clinical and experimental evidence lead to recognition of the key toxic role of alcohol in the pathogenesis of ALD. The liver biopsy can confirm the etiology of NASH or alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) and assess structural alterations of cells, their organelles, as well as inflammatory activity. Three histological stages of ALD are simple steatosis, ASH, and chronic hepatitis with hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis. These latter stages may also be associated with a number of cellular and histological changes, including the presence of Mallory's hyaline, megamitochondria, or perivenular and perisinusoidal fibrosis. Genetic polymorphisms of ethanol metabolizing enzymes such as cytochrome p450 (CYP) 2E1 activation may change the severity of ASH and NASH. Alcohol mediated hepatocarcinogenesis, immune response to alcohol in ASH, as well as the role of other risk factors such as its co-morbidities with chronic viral hepatitis in the presence or absence of human immunodeficiency virus are discussed. Dysregulation of hepatic methylation, as result of ethanol exposure, in hepatocytes transfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), illustrates an impaired interferon signaling. The hepatotoxic effects of ethanol undermine the contribution of malnutrition to the liver injury. Dietary interventions such as micro and macronutrients, as well as changes to the microbiota are suggested. The clinical aspects of NASH, as part of metabolic syndrome in the aging population, are offered. The integrative symposia investigate different aspects of alcohol-induced liver damage and possible repair. We aim to (1) determine the immuno-pathology of alcohol-induced liver damage, (2) examine the role of genetics in the development of ASH, (3) propose diagnostic markers of ASH and NASH, (4) examine age differences, (5) develop common research tools to study alcohol-induced effects in clinical and pre-clinical studies, and (6) focus on factors that aggravate severity of organ-damage. The intention of these symposia is to advance the international profile of the biological research on alcoholism. We also wish to further our mission of leading the forum to progress the science and practice of translational research in alcoholism.

Project description:BACKGROUND:The bile acid derivative 6-ethylchenodeoxycholic acid (obeticholic acid) is a potent activator of the farnesoid X nuclear receptor that reduces liver fat and fibrosis in animal models of fatty liver disease. We assessed the efficacy of obeticholic acid in adult patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. METHODS:We did a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, randomised clinical trial at medical centres in the USA in patients with non-cirrhotic, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis to assess treatment with obeticholic acid given orally (25 mg daily) or placebo for 72 weeks. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 using a computer-generated, centrally administered procedure, stratified by clinical centre and diabetes status. The primary outcome measure was improvement in centrally scored liver histology defined as a decrease in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score by at least 2 points without worsening of fibrosis from baseline to the end of treatment. A planned interim analysis of change in alanine aminotransferase at 24 weeks undertaken before end-of-treatment (72 weeks) biopsies supported the decision to continue the trial (relative change in alanine aminotransferase -24%, 95% CI -45 to -3). A planned interim analysis of the primary outcome showed improved efficacy of obeticholic acid (p=0·0024) and supported a decision not to do end-of-treatment biopsies and end treatment early in 64 patients, but to continue the trial to obtain the 24-week post-treatment measures. Analyses were done by intention-to-treat. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01265498. FINDINGS:Between March 16, 2011, and Dec 3, 2012, 141 patients were randomly assigned to receive obeticholic acid and 142 to placebo. 50 (45%) of 110 patients in the obeticholic acid group who were meant to have biopsies at baseline and 72 weeks had improved liver histology compared with 23 (21%) of 109 such patients in the placebo group (relative risk 1·9, 95% CI 1·3 to 2·8; p=0·0002). 33 (23%) of 141 patients in the obeticholic acid developed pruritus compared with nine (6%) of 142 in the placebo group. INTERPRETATION:Obeticholic acid improved the histological features of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, but its long-term benefits and safety need further clarification. FUNDING:National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Intercept Pharmaceuticals.

Project description:The mechanisms underlying the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are not completely elucidated. In this study we have integrated gene expression profiling of liver biopsies of NASH patients with translational studies in a mouse model of steatohepatitis and with pharmacological interventions in isolated hepatocytes to identify a novel mechanism implicated in the pathogenesis of NASH. By using high-density oligonucleotide microarray analysis we identified a significant enrichment of known genes involved in the multi-step catalysis of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, including delta-5 and 6 desaturases. A combined inhibitor of delta-5 and delta-6 desaturases significantly reduced intracellular lipid accumulation and inflammatory gene expression in isolated hepatocytes. Gas chromatography analysis revealed impaired delta-5 desaturase activity toward the omega-3 pathway in livers from mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NASH. Consistently, restoration of omega-3 index in transgenic fat-1 mice expressing an omega-3 desaturase, which allows the endogenous conversion of omega-6 into omega-3 fatty acids, produced a significant reduction in hepatic insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, macrophage infiltration and necroinflammatory liver injury, accompanied by attenuated expression of genes involved in inflammation, fatty acid uptake and lipogenesis. These results were comparable to those obtained in a group of mice receiving a HFD supplemented with EPA/DHA. Of interest, hepatocytes from fat-1 mice or supplemented with EPA exhibited synergistic anti-steatotic and anti-inflammatory actions with the delta-5/ delta-6 inhibitor. Conclusion: These findings indicate that both endogenous and exogenous restoration of the hepatic balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids and/or modulation of desaturase activities exert preventive actions in NASH. The complete database comprised the expression measurements of 18185 genes for liver sample groups: 8 non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH ) and 7 control samples. This dataset is part of the TransQST collection.

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Randomised clinical trial: The beneficial effects of VSL#3 in obese children with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

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Randomised clinical trial: The beneficial effects of VSL#3 in obese children with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

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