Hepatotropic and metabolic properties of ursodeoxycholic acid for nonalcocholic liver disease

The aim of the study was to evaluate the hepatotropic and metabolic properties of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Materials and methods. UDCA was administered at an average dose of 12.5±1.6 mg/kg/day for 56.7±65.4 weeks (12-240 weeks) to 136 NAFLD patients: 75 men (55.1%) and 61 women (44.9%), with an average age of 49.6±11.2 years, BMI of 31.5±2.7 kg/m², and waist circumference of 104.5±6.3 cm. Liver tests, cytokeratin-18 fragments (FCK-18) were determined (TPS ELISA test system, “Biotech”, Sweden), TNF-a cytokines (Human TNFα Platinum ELISA test system, eBioscience, Austria), IL-6 (Interleukin-6-ELISA-BEST test system, Vector-Best, Novosibirsk), the fatty liver index (FLI) and fibrosis indices (NAFLD FS and FIB-4) were determined. Statistical analysis was performed using StatGraphics Plus software (Statgraphics Technologies, Inc., USA) with the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney U test. Results. A reduction in alanine aminotransferase level from 59.4±10.3 to 34.7±6.1 U/l, alkaline phosphatase - from 229.4±23.7 to 173.9±18.6 U/l, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase- from 69.3±16.8 to 47.3±8.2 U/l, FCK-18 - from 203.5±78.7 to 134.7±61.3 U/l, cholesterol - from 6.1±0, 7 to 5.6±0.5 mmol/l, glycemia - from 6.1±0.7 to 5.6±0.5 mmol/l, HOMA-IR - from 4.6±1.9 to 2.8±0.9, FLI - from 86.2±10.9 to 78.7±12.1, NAFLD FS - from (-1.23±0.5) to (-1.61±0.4), FIB-4 - from 1.49±0.21 to 1.14±0.32 (all p<0.05) have been identified. Conclusions. The use of UDCA in NAFLD had a positive hepatotropic and metabolic effect, manifested in the normalization of liver tests, a reduction in hepatocyte apoptosis, a decrease in steatosis score, liver fibrosis scores, and an improvement in glycemic and lipidemic profile.

ursodeoxycholic acid, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cytokeratin-18 fragments, HOMA-IR, FLI, NAFLD FS, FIB-4

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