Precision Nutrition in NAFLD: Effects of a High-Fiber Intervention on the Serum Metabolome of NAFD Patients—A Pilot Study
Ewa Stachowska, Dominika Maciejewska, Joanna Palma, Karolina Anna Mielko, Badr Qasem, Katarzyna Kozłowska‐Petriczko, Marcin Ufnal, Katarzyna Ewa Sokolowska, Viktoria Hawryłkowicz, Patrycja Załęska, Karolina Jakubczyk, Ewa Wunsch, Karina Ryterská, Karolina Skonieczna‐Żydecka, Piotr Młynarz
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with dysfunction of the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites. We aimed to assess whether replacing bread with high-fiber buns beneficially changes the metabolome in NAFLD patients. This study involved 27 adult patients with NAFLD validated by FibroScan® (CAP ≥ 234 dB/m). Patients were asked to replace their existing bread for two meals with high-fiber buns. In this way, the patients ate two rolls every day for 2 months. The following parameters were analysed (at the beginning and after 2 months): the anthropometric data (BIA), eating habits (24 h food recalls), gut barrier markers (lipopolysaccharide S and liposaccharide binding protein (LPS, LBP)), serum short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and branched chain fatty acids (BCFAs) by GC/MS chromatography, as well as serum metabolites (by 1H NMR spectroscopy). After 2 months of high-fiber roll consumption, the reduction of liver steatosis was observed (change Fibroscan CAP values from 309–277 dB/m). In serum propionate, acetate, isovaleric, and 2-methylbutyric decrease was observed. Proline, choline and one unknown molecule had higher relative concentration in serum at endpoint. A fiber-targeted dietary approach may be helpful in the treatment of patients with NAFLD, by changing the serum microbiota metabolome.