Calory restriction reduces liver lipids in overweight subjects without non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
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Fatty liver is associated with portal hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance. Since caloric restriction (CR) improves insulin sensitivity, this study was conducted in order to investigate the relation between liver lipid content and serum lipids, markers of liver function and inflammation in healthy overweight subjects, and to assess the effect of CR on hepatic lipids. To this end, 46 white and black overweight men and women were randomized to 4 groups: control (CO; 100% energy requirements); CR (75% of energy requirements); caloric restriction and increased structured exercise (CR+EX; 12.5% CR + 12.5% increase in energy expenditure through exercise) and low-calorie diet (LCD; 15% weight loss by liquid diet followed by weight-maintenance for 6 months). At baseline, increased liver lipid content measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy correlated with elevated fasting triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Following CR, hepatic lipid content was significantly lowered by CR, CR+EX, and LCD, but this reduction was not significantly correlated with the reduction in triglycerides or with the changes in ALT, HDL cholesterol, or markers of whole-body inflammation. CR may be beneficial for reducing hepatic lipid content and for lowering triglycerides in overweight subjects with no evidence for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
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