Effect of iron depletion in carbohydrate-intolerant patients with clinical evidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
FS Facchini, NW Hua, RA Stoohs - Gastroenterology, 2002 - Elsevier
FS Facchini, NW Hua, RA Stoohs
Gastroenterology, 2002•ElsevierBACKGROUND & AIMS:: Increased body iron, genetic hemochromatosis (GH) mutations,
and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) tend to cluster in carbohydrate-intolerant
patients. In an attempt to further clarify the interrelationships among these conditions, we
studied 42 carbohydrate-intolerant patients who were free of the common GH mutations
C282Y and H63D. and had a serum iron saturation lower than 50%. METHODS:: We
measured body iron stores, and induced iron depletion to a level of near-iron deficiency …
and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) tend to cluster in carbohydrate-intolerant
patients. In an attempt to further clarify the interrelationships among these conditions, we
studied 42 carbohydrate-intolerant patients who were free of the common GH mutations
C282Y and H63D. and had a serum iron saturation lower than 50%. METHODS:: We
measured body iron stores, and induced iron depletion to a level of near-iron deficiency …
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Increased body iron, genetic hemochromatosis (GH) mutations, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) tend to cluster in carbohydrate-intolerant patients. In an attempt to further clarify the interrelationships among these conditions, we studied 42 carbohydrate-intolerant patients who were free of the common GH mutations C282Y and H63D. and had a serum iron saturation lower than 50%.
METHODS
We measured body iron stores, and induced iron depletion to a level of near-iron deficiency (NID) by quantitative phlebotomy.
RESULTS
In the 17 patients with clinical evidence of NAFLD. we could not demonstrate supranormal levels of body iron (1.6 ± 0.2 vs. 1.4 ± 0.2 g; P = 0.06). However, at NID. there was a 40%-55% improvement (P = 0.05-0.0001) of both fasting and glucose-stimulated plasma insulin concentrations, and near-normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase activity (from 6-1.t 5 to 32.± 2 IU/L; P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
These results reflect the insulin-sparing effect of iron depletion and indicate a key role of iron and hyperinsulinemia in the pathogenesis of NAFLD.
Elsevier