Predictive value of serum dihomo-γ-linolenic acid level and estimated Δ-5 desaturase activity in patients with hepatic steatosis

Background: Hepatic steatosis is considered one of the features of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolism is modulated in obesity. However, it has yet to be fully elucidated whether a serum PUFA profile is associated with hepatic steatosis. Objective: We aimed to clarify the relationship between a serum PUFA profile and liver lipid content. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 288 patients with dyslipidemia, diabetes, or coronary artery disease on statin therapy. Several PUFAs were measured, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) and arachidonic acid (AA) in serum lipids, and A-5 desaturase (D5D) activity was estimated by AA to DGLA ratio. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) measured visceral fat area (VFA) and the ratio of CT attenuation for liver to spleen (L/S). Results: The L/S ratio showed significant correlations with serum DGLA level and D5D activity (p < 0.0001 for both). Serum DGLA level and D5D activity were significantly correlated with body mass index (BMI) or VFA, and with Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) (p <0.0001 for all). Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that a high DGLA level or low D5D activity was a significant determinant for hepatic steatosis (p < 0.0001 for both) independent of BMI and HOMA-IR. ROC analysis revealed that they significantly enhanced the value of MetS-related factors in predicting hepatic steatosis < 0.05 for both). Conclusions: A high DGLA level and low D5D activity in serum lipids may be useful markers predicting hepatic steatosis incrementally to MetS-related conventional factors. (C) 2016 Asia Oceania Association for the Study of Obesity. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.