Mediating effect analysis of postprandial triglyceride on Omega-3 and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in individuals with normal fasting lipid levels

TL;DR

This study shows that Omega-3 reduces the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, partly by lowering post-meal triglyceride levels.

Contribution

It identifies postprandial triglycerides as a mediator between Omega-3 and NAFLD in individuals with normal fasting lipid levels.

Findings

Higher Omega-3 levels were linked to a significantly lower risk of NAFLD.

Postprandial triglycerides partially explained the protective effect of Omega-3 on NAFLD.

The mediating effect of triglycerides accounted for 52.17% of the total effect.

Abstract

The association between Omega-3 (ω-3)and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in individuals with normal fasting lipid levels subjects is unclear. In addition, few studies have explored whether postprandial triglyceride levels (PTG) mediates the association between ω-3 and NAFLD. We aimed to analyze the mediating effect of PTG on ω-3 and NAFLD.

In March 2024, volunteers were recruited from the Hebei Provincial People’s Hospital. In total, 108 volunteers met the inclusion criteria. The basic information and biochemical parameters, as well as ω-3 and PTG were collected. NAFLD was diagnosed according to abdominal ultrasonography. The clinical characteristics of the participants was analyzed by quartiles of ω-3 (O1-O4 quartiles) and PTG (P1-P4 quartiles), respectively. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between ω-3 and PTG. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to analyze the effect of ω-3 and PTG on NAFLD. Bootstrap was conducted to explore whether PTG mediated the association between ω-3 and NAFLD.

Pearson correlation analysis indicated that ω-3 was negatively associated with PTG. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that compared to the low ω-3 group, the risk of NAFLD significantly decreased in high ω-3 group [OR = 0.024 (0.006 ∼ 0.104)]. Mediating effect analysis showed that ω-3 significantly directly influenced NAFLD prevalence [β = −0.077, 95%CI (−0.128, −0.026)], and PTG partly mediated the indirect effect of the ω-3 on NAFLD prevalence [β = −0.084, 95%CI (−0.130, −0.037)], and the mediating effect accounted for 52.17% of the total effects.

In this cross-sectional analysis, both ω-3 and PTG were predictors of NAFLD, and PTG partly statistically mediated the indirect effect of the ω-3 on NAFLD prevalence.

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