The effect of myo-inositol supplementation on nutritional status, Oxidative Stress, liver function in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

The effect of myo-inositol supplementation on nutritional status, Oxidative Stress, liver function in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease Abstract Background: Myo-inositol (MI) is a carbocyclic sugar polyalcohol. MI has known to exert anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-diabetic activities. This study aimed to investigate the effects of MI supplementation on oxidative stress biomarkers in obese patients with NAFLD. Methods In this double-blinded placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, 48 newly diagnosed obese patients with NAFLD were randomly assigned to receive either MI (4g/day) or placebo supplements accompanied by dietary recommendations for 8 weeks. Oxidative stress biomarkers, nutritional status, as well as liver enzymes and obesity indices were assessed pre-and post-intervention. Results 48 patients completed the trial. Although anthropometric measures and obesity indices decreased significantly in both groups, the between-group differences adjusted for confounders were non-significant for these parameters, except for weight (p = 0.049); greater decrease was observed in the MI group. Although iron and zinc intakes decreased significantly in both groups, between-group differences were non-significant by the end of the study. No significant between-group differences were revealed for other antioxidant micronutrients at study endpoint. Sense of hunger, feeling to eat, desire to eat sweet and fatty foods reduced significantly in both groups (p<0.05), while the feeling of satiety increased significantly in the placebo group (p=0.002). No significant between-group differences were observed for these parameters, except for desire to eat fatty foods; greater decrease was observed in the MI group (p=0.034). Plasma levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly increased in both study groups (p<0.05); however, the between-group differences were non-significant at the end of the study when adjusted for the baseline values and energy intake. The between-group differences adjusted for potential confounders were non-significant for other oxidative stress biomarkers, except for serum nitric oxide (NO) level; greater decrease was observed in the MI group. Conclusion MI supplementation could improve some oxidant/antioxidant biomarkers in NAFLD patients. Further clinical trials with larger sample sizes and longer durations are encouraged to study the different doses of MI and other inositol derivatives in patients with NAFLD.

Key words: Myo-Inositol (MI), Oxidative stress, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).