Essential amino acid supplement lowers intrahepatic lipid despite excess alcohol consumption

Melynda S. Coker; Kaylee R. Ladd; Jimin Kim; Carl J. Murphy; Ryan Decort; Bradley R. Newcomer; Robert R. Wolfe; Robert H. Coker

doi:10.3390/nu12010254

Essential amino acid supplement lowers intrahepatic lipid despite excess alcohol consumption

Melynda S. Coker
, Kaylee R. Ladd
, Jimin Kim
, Carl J. Murphy
, Ryan Decort
, Bradley R. Newcomer
, Robert R. Wolfe
, Robert H. Coker

School of Integrative Physiology and Athletic Training

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Excess alcohol consumption is a top risk factor for death and disability. Fatty liver will likely develop and the risk of liver disease increases. We have previously demonstrated that an essential amino acid supplement (EAAS) improved protein synthesis and reduced intrahepatic lipid in the elderly. The purpose of this exploratory pilot study was to initiate the evaluation of EAAS on intrahepatic lipid (IHL), body composition, and blood lipids in individuals with mild to moderate alcohol use disorder (AUD). Following consent, determination of eligibility, and medical screening, 25 participants (18 males at 38 ± 15 years/age and 7 females at 34 ± 18 years/age) were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two dosages: a low dose (LD: 8 g of EAAS twice/day (BID)) or high dose (HD: 13 g of EAAS BID). Five of the twenty-five enrolled participants dropped out of the intervention. Both groups consumed the supplement BID for 4 weeks. Pre-and post-EAAS administration, IHL was determined using magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy, body composition was analyzed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and blood parameters were measured by LabCorp. T-tests were used for statistical analysis and considered significant at p < 0.05. While there was no significant change in IHL in the LD group, there was a significant 23% reduction in IHL in the HD group (p = 0.02). Fat mass, lean tissue mass, bone mineral content, and blood lipids were not altered. Post-EAAS phosphatidylethanol was elevated and remained unchanged in LD at 407 ± 141 ng/mL and HD at 429 ± 196 ng/mL, indicating chronic and excess alcohol consumption. The HD of the proprietary EAAS formulation consumed BID seemed to lower IHL in individuals with mild to moderate AUD. We suggest that further studies in a larger cohort be conducted to more completely address this important area of investigation.

Original language	English
Article number	254
Journal	Nutrients
Volume	12
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010254
State	Published - Jan 2020

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by Essential Blends, LLC. Research support was also provided by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) under grant number P20GM103395 and the Biomedical Learning and Student Training Program (UL1GM118991, TL4GM118992, or RL5GM118990) and Award Number P20GM130443 through the National Institute Of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and James Madison University are affirmative action/equal employment opportunity employers and educational institutions. Acknowledgments: We would like to express our sincere appreciation to our participants from the Fairbanks area that volunteered their time and effort for this study. We also thank Forrest Clark, Michelle Johannsen, and Ken Shin for the technical assistance in this study, and Andrew Saxon at the University of Washington for his clinical insight and consultation. Funding: Research reported in this publication was supported by Essential Blends, LLC. Research support was also provided by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) under grant number P20GM103395 and the Biomedical Learning and Student Training Program (UL1GM118991, TL4GM118992, or RL5GM118990) and Award Number P20GM130443 through the National Institute Of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and James Madison University are affirmative action/equal employment opportunity employers and educational institutions.

Funders	Funder number
P20GM130443, P20GM103395
James Madison University
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
University of Alaska Fairbanks

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Alcohol
Amino acids
Liver

Access to Document

10.3390/nu12010254

Cite this

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title = "Essential amino acid supplement lowers intrahepatic lipid despite excess alcohol consumption",

abstract = "Excess alcohol consumption is a top risk factor for death and disability. Fatty liver will likely develop and the risk of liver disease increases. We have previously demonstrated that an essential amino acid supplement (EAAS) improved protein synthesis and reduced intrahepatic lipid in the elderly. The purpose of this exploratory pilot study was to initiate the evaluation of EAAS on intrahepatic lipid (IHL), body composition, and blood lipids in individuals with mild to moderate alcohol use disorder (AUD). Following consent, determination of eligibility, and medical screening, 25 participants (18 males at 38 ± 15 years/age and 7 females at 34 ± 18 years/age) were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two dosages: a low dose (LD: 8 g of EAAS twice/day (BID)) or high dose (HD: 13 g of EAAS BID). Five of the twenty-five enrolled participants dropped out of the intervention. Both groups consumed the supplement BID for 4 weeks. Pre-and post-EAAS administration, IHL was determined using magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy, body composition was analyzed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and blood parameters were measured by LabCorp. T-tests were used for statistical analysis and considered significant at p < 0.05. While there was no significant change in IHL in the LD group, there was a significant 23\% reduction in IHL in the HD group (p = 0.02). Fat mass, lean tissue mass, bone mineral content, and blood lipids were not altered. Post-EAAS phosphatidylethanol was elevated and remained unchanged in LD at 407 ± 141 ng/mL and HD at 429 ± 196 ng/mL, indicating chronic and excess alcohol consumption. The HD of the proprietary EAAS formulation consumed BID seemed to lower IHL in individuals with mild to moderate AUD. We suggest that further studies in a larger cohort be conducted to more completely address this important area of investigation.",

keywords = "Alcohol, Amino acids, Liver",

author = "Coker, \{Melynda S.\} and Ladd, \{Kaylee R.\} and Jimin Kim and Murphy, \{Carl J.\} and Ryan Decort and Newcomer, \{Bradley R.\} and Wolfe, \{Robert R.\} and Coker, \{Robert H.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.",

year = "2020",

month = jan,

doi = "10.3390/nu12010254",

language = "English",

volume = "12",

journal = "Nutrients",

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T1 - Essential amino acid supplement lowers intrahepatic lipid despite excess alcohol consumption

AU - Coker, Melynda S.

AU - Ladd, Kaylee R.

AU - Kim, Jimin

AU - Murphy, Carl J.

AU - Decort, Ryan

AU - Newcomer, Bradley R.

AU - Wolfe, Robert R.

AU - Coker, Robert H.

PY - 2020/1

Y1 - 2020/1

N2 - Excess alcohol consumption is a top risk factor for death and disability. Fatty liver will likely develop and the risk of liver disease increases. We have previously demonstrated that an essential amino acid supplement (EAAS) improved protein synthesis and reduced intrahepatic lipid in the elderly. The purpose of this exploratory pilot study was to initiate the evaluation of EAAS on intrahepatic lipid (IHL), body composition, and blood lipids in individuals with mild to moderate alcohol use disorder (AUD). Following consent, determination of eligibility, and medical screening, 25 participants (18 males at 38 ± 15 years/age and 7 females at 34 ± 18 years/age) were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two dosages: a low dose (LD: 8 g of EAAS twice/day (BID)) or high dose (HD: 13 g of EAAS BID). Five of the twenty-five enrolled participants dropped out of the intervention. Both groups consumed the supplement BID for 4 weeks. Pre-and post-EAAS administration, IHL was determined using magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy, body composition was analyzed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and blood parameters were measured by LabCorp. T-tests were used for statistical analysis and considered significant at p < 0.05. While there was no significant change in IHL in the LD group, there was a significant 23% reduction in IHL in the HD group (p = 0.02). Fat mass, lean tissue mass, bone mineral content, and blood lipids were not altered. Post-EAAS phosphatidylethanol was elevated and remained unchanged in LD at 407 ± 141 ng/mL and HD at 429 ± 196 ng/mL, indicating chronic and excess alcohol consumption. The HD of the proprietary EAAS formulation consumed BID seemed to lower IHL in individuals with mild to moderate AUD. We suggest that further studies in a larger cohort be conducted to more completely address this important area of investigation.

AB - Excess alcohol consumption is a top risk factor for death and disability. Fatty liver will likely develop and the risk of liver disease increases. We have previously demonstrated that an essential amino acid supplement (EAAS) improved protein synthesis and reduced intrahepatic lipid in the elderly. The purpose of this exploratory pilot study was to initiate the evaluation of EAAS on intrahepatic lipid (IHL), body composition, and blood lipids in individuals with mild to moderate alcohol use disorder (AUD). Following consent, determination of eligibility, and medical screening, 25 participants (18 males at 38 ± 15 years/age and 7 females at 34 ± 18 years/age) were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two dosages: a low dose (LD: 8 g of EAAS twice/day (BID)) or high dose (HD: 13 g of EAAS BID). Five of the twenty-five enrolled participants dropped out of the intervention. Both groups consumed the supplement BID for 4 weeks. Pre-and post-EAAS administration, IHL was determined using magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy, body composition was analyzed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and blood parameters were measured by LabCorp. T-tests were used for statistical analysis and considered significant at p < 0.05. While there was no significant change in IHL in the LD group, there was a significant 23% reduction in IHL in the HD group (p = 0.02). Fat mass, lean tissue mass, bone mineral content, and blood lipids were not altered. Post-EAAS phosphatidylethanol was elevated and remained unchanged in LD at 407 ± 141 ng/mL and HD at 429 ± 196 ng/mL, indicating chronic and excess alcohol consumption. The HD of the proprietary EAAS formulation consumed BID seemed to lower IHL in individuals with mild to moderate AUD. We suggest that further studies in a larger cohort be conducted to more completely address this important area of investigation.

KW - Alcohol

KW - Amino acids

KW - Liver

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85078317114

U2 - 10.3390/nu12010254

DO - 10.3390/nu12010254

M3 - Article

C2 - 31963802

AN - SCOPUS:85078317114

SN - 2072-6643

VL - 12

JO - Nutrients

JF - Nutrients

IS - 1

M1 - 254

ER -

Essential amino acid supplement lowers intrahepatic lipid despite excess alcohol consumption

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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