Effect of Fish-oil on Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

NCT ID: NCT01056133

Last Updated: 2016-05-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2009-10-31
• Study Completion Date: 2015-08-31

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Omega-3 Fish oil supplementation on hepatic gene expression in patients with Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). In addition, effects of fish oil on intestinal microbiota will be assessed.

Detailed Description

Changes in fatty acid (FA) composition within the liver may influence lipid metabolism and inflammation. This is poorly understood in humans.

Especially omega-3 FA are important: They promote FA oxidation over storage and are important for export of lipids from the liver. Omega-3 FA have also anti-inflammatory properties.

Changes in liver FA composition may be influenced by dietary intake, high rate of lipid peroxidation (LP) or low delta-6 desaturase enzyme activity. We and others recently showed that NASH patients had lower hepatic n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) with increased lipid peroxidation and low antioxidant status when compared to patients with minimal findings on liver biopsy. The dietary intake of FA was similar among the 3 groups suggesting that the difference in hepatic FA composition may be related to high lipid peroxidation or low delta-6 desaturase activity. This difference in hepatic FA composition may be of significance in the pathogenesis of NASH since it may change gene expressions in regard to lipid metabolism.

This pilot study in NASH to assess the effect of n-3 PUFA supplementation on FA composition (liver and red blood cells), hepatic gene expression, and histology. We will also assess the ratio of phosphatidylcholine (PC) to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in liver and red blood cells (RBC). Oxidative stress, insulin resistance and nutritional measurements will be performed to further characterize these patients.

New research suggests that the composition of the gut flora (intestinal microbiota) may play a role in the development of NASH. The effect of fish oil on the intestinal microbiota has not been examined in humans. Therefore, intestinal microbiota is also measured before and after intervention and associations between changes in microbiota and changes in liver histology will be examined. In addition, bacterial products (short chain fatty acids in stool, lipopolysaccharide in plasma, bacterial DNA in plasma), and plasma choline will be measured. An environmental questionnaire will capture factors that can influence the intestinal microbiota.

Conditions

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Omega-3 capsules-Fish Oil

Omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil capsules (2g/d)

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Omega-3 capsules-Fish Oil

Intervention Type: OTHER

Patients will take 2 capsules (1.0 g each) of n-3 PUFA (0.82/0.44 g of EPA/DHA) daily x 12 months. Since n-3 PUFA supplementation can be a potential treatment for NASH and since BMI will be\< 30 kg/m2 for all subjects, patients will be told to keep their lifestyle, diet and medication stable (unless medically necessary) for the study duration in order to minimize environmental effect on gene expression.

Interventions

Omega-3 capsules-Fish Oil

Patients will take 2 capsules (1.0 g each) of n-3 PUFA (0.82/0.44 g of EPA/DHA) daily x 12 months. Since n-3 PUFA supplementation can be a potential treatment for NASH and since BMI will be\< 30 kg/m2 for all subjects, patients will be told to keep their lifestyle, diet and medication stable (unless medically necessary) for the study duration in order to minimize environmental effect on gene expression.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Product Name: Amber 40/20 Ethyl ester (EE); 1000 mg capsules (lemon-lime flavor); Product Code: 4020PB1000CT

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients with biopsy-proven NASH; male and female; age 18-65 years; BMI ≤ 40 kg/m2, alcohol consumption <20g/d; non-smokers; if known to have hyperlipidemia or diabetes, need to be stable drug regimen.

Exclusion Criteria

• Liver disease of other etiology; documented HIV infection, anticipated need for liver transplantation in one year or complications such as recurrent variceal bleeding, spontaneous portosystemic encephalopathy, ascites or jaundice; concurrent medical illnesses, abnormal coagulation or other reasons judged by the hepatologist to contraindicate a liver biopsy; chronic gastrointestinal diseases, previous gastrointestinal surgery modifying the anatomy, patients with diabetes requiring insulin; medications known to precipitate steatohepatitis in the 6 months prior to entry; regular intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, regular intake of antioxidant vitamin or omega-3/fish oil supplements, prebiotics, probiotics, antibiotics, or laxatives; ursodeoxycholic acid or any experimental drug in the 6 months prior to study entry; smokers; pregnancy or lactating; female subjects who are not surgically sterile or postmenopausal and who are not using medically acceptable methods of birth control during the trial and for 30 days after the treatment period.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: collaborator

American College of Gastroenterology

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Johane Allard

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Johane Allard

Professor, Gastroenterologist

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Johane P Allard, MD, FRCPC

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University Health Network, Toronto

Locations

University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Countries

Canada

Other Identifiers

CIHR Grant#89705

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

MOP-123459

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

08-0874-A

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id