Vitamin E reduces liver stiffness in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of vitamin E treatment on liver stiffness in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).METHODS: Thirty-eight NAFLD patients were administered vitamin E for > 1 year. The doses of vitamin E were 150, 300, or 600 mg; three times per day after each meal. Responses were assessed by liver enzyme levels [aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotranferease(ALT), and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase(γ-GTP)], noninvasive scoring systems of hepatic fibrosis-4 [FIB-4 index and aspartate aminotransferaseto-platelet index(APRI)], and liver stiffness [velocity of shear wave(Vs)] measured by acoustic radiation force impulse elastography. Vs measurements were performed at baseline and 12 mo after baseline. The patients were genotyped for the patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3(PNPLA3) polymorphisms and then divided into either the CC/CG or GG group to examine each group’s responses to vitamin E treatment. RESULTS: We found marked differences in the platelet count, serum albumin levels, alkaline phosphatase levels, FIB-4 index, APRI, and Vs at baseline depending on the PNPLA3 polymorphism. AST, ALT, and γ-GTP levels(all P < 0.001); FIB-4 index(P = 0.035); APRI(P < 0.001); and Vs(P < 0.001) significantly decreased from baseline to 12 mo in the analysis of all patients. In the subset analyses of PNPLA3 genotypes, AST levels(P = 0.011), ALT levels(P < 0.001), γ-GTP levels(P = 0.005), APRI(P = 0.036), and Vs(P = 0.029) in genotype GG patients significantly improved, and AST and ALT levels(both P < 0.001), γ-GTP levels(P = 0.003), FIB-4 index(P = 0.017), and APRI(P < 0.001) in genotype CC/CG patients. CONCLUSION: One year of vitamin E treatment improved noninvasive fibrosis scores and liver stiffness in NAFLD patients. The responses were similar between different PNPLA3 genotypes.