Low Levels of Serum beta-Carotene and beta-Carotene/Retinol Ratio Are Associated with Histological Severity in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients

摘要

beta-Carotene has been reported to alleviate hepatic steatosis (SS), inflammation, and fibrosis in vivo and vitro studies. However, the clinical relevance of serum beta-carotene and beta-carotene-to-retinol (SC/SR) ratio with histological severity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients is unknown. This case-control study enrolled 24 control subjects and 62 NAFLD patients. Liver biopsies were collected and histological characteristics were assessed. Information with regard to demographic, anthropometric and dietary intake was assessed by face-to-face interviews with questionnaire. Serum beta-carotene and retinol concentrations were determined by the HPLC method. Serum beta-carotene and SC/SR levels in NAFLD patients were significantly lower than these in controls (0.23 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.35 +/- 0.04 mu mol/L, 0.38 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.84 +/- 0.10). Compared with individuals without SS, both beta-carotene and SC/SR levels were significantly decreased in those with moderate SS (0.34 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.21 +/- 0.02 mu mol/L, 0.76 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.37 +/- 0.05). Subjects with mild inflammation had a significantly lower beta-carotene and SC/SR levels than those without inflammation (0.23 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.33 +/- 0.04 mu mol/L, 0.77 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.38 +/- 0.03). Serum SC/SR was significantly lower in patients with mild fibrosis than those without fibrosis (0.45 [0.27-0.83] vs. 0.34 [0.26-0.51]). According to the NAFLD Activity Scoring score, both beta-carotene and SC/SR gradually decreased with disease progression from normal liver, simple SS to steatohepatitis borderline (p(trend) <= 0.001). These results show that NAFLD patients have lower circulating beta-carotene concentration and SC/SR ratio, which are associated with the histological severity of NAFLD. (c) 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel